by Ramona Giwargis and Katie Lauer and Mauricio La Plante
September 16, 2020
As of Sept. 9, Santa Clara County reported 18,854 confirmed coronavirus circumstances and 263 deaths. The county’s COVID-19 drive-thru and walk-up testing websites will stay open as fires across the South Bay worsen air high quality within the space.
California had 742,865 constructive circumstances and 13,978 deaths as of Sept. 10. Nevertheless, well being officers have warned current figures have been underreported attributable to points with the state database to enter new check outcomes.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an indefinite stay-at-home order for the state however has eased some restrictions by permitting certain businesses to operate outdoors.
Three p.m. Sept. 15: State well being officers urge folks to keep away from partying, handing out sweet on Halloween
Hordes of children gathering collectively, touching doorbells and taking different folks’s sweet may very well be a public well being nightmare for state and native leaders this Halloween through the COVID-19 pandemic.
California Well being and Human Companies Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly mentioned households ought to be prepared for an irregular spooky season.
“We’re actually urging folks to be ready for a special kind of Halloween,” Ghaly mentioned. “The kind of mixing that is available in our conventional trick-or-treating festivities is absolutely not suggested below COVID.”
However he recommended that oldsters ought to preserve the Halloween spirit alive by permitting their youngsters to plan costumes and searching for alternate options to trick-or-treating.
State well being officers are engaged on pointers for folks to rejoice Halloween, Ghaly mentioned, and mentioned some counties have already put out their very own algorithm.
Santa Clara County has not introduced any plans or pointers for stopping COVID-19 unfold on Halloween.
3:30 p.m. Sept. 11: Santa Clara mayor recaps COVID-19 reduction measures
Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor on Friday recapped how the Mission Metropolis helps residents survive COVID-19, from small enterprise grants to meals distribution applications and rental help.
Town has additionally applied a 6-month reduction on rubbish fee will increase and diminished energy payments for residents and companies, the mayor mentioned. Santa Clara secured $1.59 million from the CARES Act and allotted an extra $1.5 million to varied reduction efforts.
In keeping with metropolis officers, the Small Enterprise Help Grant Program obtained $590,000 in further funds to assist companies and nonprofits, the Emergency Rental Help Program obtained $1.5 million to assist pay lease for as much as three months for low-income residents and numerous meals distribution applications via the Santa Clara Unified College District and different companions proceed for college students and seniors.
To assist shield eating places from extreme charges charged by third-party meals supply apps, the Metropolis Council final week approved limiting delivery fees.
For an entire listing of Santa Clara’s COVID-19 reduction applications and neighborhood assets, click here.2 p.m. Sept. 8: Regardless of new reopening tier, Santa Clara County nonetheless implementing restrictions on indoor operations
Santa Clara County exited essentially the most excessive danger tier for COVID-19 unfold, which permits extra companies to reopen with modifications.
With the county now within the purple zone – nonetheless labeled as substantial by California – companies should submit their social distancing protocols to the county’s new enterprise compliance website. The county was beforehand within the purple zone, which is the best danger.
“Earlier than anyone simply runs on the market and opens up, you have to have all of your practices in place, your I’s dotted, your T’s crossed to maintain your employees and your prospects secure,” mentioned County Counsel James Williams.
Beneath the brand new tier, nail salons can now deliver a restricted quantity of individuals inside whereas following stringent sanitary procedures, in keeping with state well being pointers. Gyms and purchasing malls are additionally allowed to welcome small teams of individuals for exercises, the rules say, and may solely have their indoor areas stuffed to 10% and 50% capability, respectively.
Though state pointers permit eating places to reopen indoors at restricted capability, Santa Clara County has not given the inexperienced gentle for indoor eating, Williams mentioned.
One other exception to state pointers is in-person worship, which remains to be forbidden indoors inside Santa Clara County, Williams mentioned.
He added that counties can impose stricter pointers than the state.
Dr. Marty Fenstersheib mentioned folks nonetheless have to take the identical degree of well being precautions, equivalent to sporting masks and washing fingers, regardless of transferring to a lower-risk tier.
“COVID-19 remains to be right here. It hasn’t gone away, and the truth that we have moved into the purple tier at this level does not change that,” Fenstersheib mentioned. “We nonetheless have to stay vigilant. We nonetheless must put on our masks. We nonetheless must socially distance ourselves.”
Counties will stay in every tier for at the least three weeks, mentioned California Well being and Human Companies Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly throughout an internet livestream and may solely transfer tiers in the event that they keep a delegated case fee and testing positivity fee for 2 straight weeks.
Santa Clara County should cut back its case fee to at least one to three.9 new infections per day and its testing positivity fee to 2 to 4.9% inside the state’s timeline to maneuver to the orange tier, the subsequent lower-risk degree.
11:30 p.m. Sept. 7: Santa Clara County creates web site for companies disobeying well being order
Santa Clara County has developed a website for folks to report companies violating COVID-19 well being orders.
Enterprise compliance officers mentioned Monday they depend on ideas from prospects and staff to catch companies creating dangers by not social distancing or sporting masks.
“We need to know particularly what actions these companies are taking which are placing the neighborhood in danger,” mentioned Beatrice Santiago from the county’s enterprise compliance group throughout an internet livestream. “You may undergo and reply a number of questions. You present the enterprise title. You’ll be able to stay nameless.”
Individuals can even report faculties and well being care suppliers not complying with county’s well being order.
County well being officers say they intention to teach earlier than penalizing companies for violating COVID-19 pointers, and permit companies time to repair no matter protocols are creating dangers.
If companies don’t repair their COVID-19 hazard inside the grace interval, they are often subject to fines up to $5,000.
The web site additionally has portals for companies to find out about county pointers and submit their social distancing protocols – which is a county requirement to reopen.
Nevertheless, the web site is simply in English and customers talking one other language should name a county recommendation line for help.
1:30 p.m. Sept. 4: County says to keep away from crowds, giant gatherings throughout Labor Day
Santa Clara County well being officers say to remain house and keep away from crowds this Labor Day weekend.
“Hang around with solely the those who reside in your family,” mentioned County Well being Spokesperson Larry Little throughout a information convention.
County well being officers mentioned gatherings on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July unfold COVID-19, and mentioned to remain at house and proceed following county well being pointers.
“We should all do our half to keep away from getting sick or infecting others,” mentioned Well being Officer Dr. Sara Cody. “This Labor Day weekend, change issues up a bit to guard your self and your loved ones. For instance, keep exterior in case you are gathering with folks you do not reside with: indoors is riskier. We’re in an unprecedented state of affairs now and may’t behave prefer it’s enterprise as common.”
If folks need to go outside and see others, they need to achieve this with few folks, sporting a masks and social distancing, mentioned county well being officers.
Nevertheless, Little mentioned folks ought to keep away from contact with others in the event that they really feel sick.
“In the event you really feel sick, please don’t go away your own home as a result of there’s a probability that you’ll transmit the virus to another person, even when you do not know you’ve gotten it,” he mentioned.
2 p.m. Sept. 2: State unveils new web site for state eviction protections and home-owner reduction
Beneath a new website, California tenants, landlords and householders can entry info and assets to guard them from evictions or property loss.
The state has prolonged its eviction moratorium to January 31, 2021 below Tenant, Homeowner and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020 handed by state lawmakers on Aug. 31.
“As everyone knows throughout this pandemic many tenants have struggled to pay the lease and could also be only one paycheck away from dropping their residence or the place that they name house,” mentioned Lourdes Castro RamÃrez, the secretary of California’s Enterprise, Shopper Companies and Housing Company.
Nevertheless, tenants nonetheless must pay all their previous months’ lease because the begin of the moratorium.
Beneath the brand new legislation, they’ve till Feb. 1, 2021 to foot the invoice.
The web site has a portal for each tenants, landlords and householders to know how the legislation protects them.
RamÃrez and Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned the web site will assist break down the complicated protections for tenants and householders.
Midday Sept. 2: Companies nonetheless below strict reopening pointers in Santa Clara County
Though some companies can reopen below state pointers, most face restrictions as Santa Clara County remains to be within the purple zone.
Hair salons and barber retailers can function indoors with restricted quantities of individuals inside, mentioned County Well being Spokesperson Todd Naffziger throughout an internet livestream, and indoor malls can open to 25% of their most capability for customers and employees.
Nail salons and health facilities can solely function outside below state pointers.
Naffziger added that hair salons and barber retailers ought to contact their metropolis authorities officers and examine if they’ll function indoors and outside concurrently.
“What this may do, in the event that they’re allowed to take action, is maximize the companies that they should do inside the ability and nonetheless present these companies that they’ll present outside,” he mentioned. “However they need to examine with their metropolis if these operations are nonetheless in impact.”
Naffziger mentioned prospects are required to put on masks and abide by social distancing guidelines, however was unclear on whether or not enterprise homeowners can legally refuse service to them.
“For authorized recommendation, we’re pointing folks within the route of precise authorized counsel as they’re more healthy to find out what plan of action, legally, a enterprise can be allowed to take presently,” he mentioned.
If companies have an worker who exams constructive for COVID-19, Naffziger mentioned the proprietor should contact the county inside 4 hours of being notified concerning the an infection and shut till they’ve correctly sanitized the constructing.
He added that the enterprise homeowners or managers ought to determine all different shut contacts of the contaminated individual, however didn’t specify if all staff in touch with the contaminated individual are required to be examined for COVID-19 to return to work.
7:30 p.m. Sept. 1: County well being officers present COVID-19 circumstances nonetheless excessive in East Aspect, South San Jose
Santa Clara County well being officers confirmed knowledge from their new testing website on the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds revealing most individuals who examined constructive for COVID-19 on the website resided in South San Jose and the East Aspect.
Individuals from the East Aspect and South San Jose obtained exams at practically the identical charges as folks from the west of San Jose, however had examined constructive at a a lot larger fee, in keeping with county knowledge.
“East San Jose and parts of South San Jose had the best positivity,” mentioned Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the county’s testing guru.
Fenstersheib mentioned testing positivity charges have been dropping slowly, however mentioned East Aspect residents stay disproportionately contaminated with coronavirus.
Total, examined residents from East San Jose had a 7.6% positivity fee, whereas residents of Gilroy and surrounding areas had a 7.1% positivity fee. These charges are about 4% larger than residents of different areas in Santa Clara County.
The county examined greater than 43,000 folks from Aug. 1-Aug. 21.
Dr. Sara Cody additionally detailed which worksites in Santa Clara County have had the best quantity of COVID-19 circumstances.
Development websites have been the workplaces with highest quantity contaminated employees, with 35% of worksites having Three or extra constructive COVID-19 circumstances, in keeping with county knowledge.
13 % of Manufacturing crops had Three or extra constructive circumstances, whereas round 10% of food-processing crops, eating places and retail shops had Three or extra constructive circumstances.
“These are simply the general variety of worksites the place we have documented the variety of circumstances via late Might via most of August, however we do not actually have a comparative,” Cody mentioned. “I can not inform you what number of building worksites that have been in operation had a cluster of circumstances and I believe that is actually vital.”
She mentioned infections can occur if employees can’t keep bodily distance from prospects or in the event that they work together carefully with co-workers. She mentioned this usually occurs throughout lunch breaks when individuals are shut collectively and never sporting masks.
At building websites specifically, Cody mentioned that the quantity of individuals required to be at initiatives in-person has additionally contributed to an increase in circumstances.
1 p.m. Sept. 1: California well being officers announce contract to develop stand-alone COVID-19 database, warning folks from Labor Day gatherings
California Well being and Human Companies Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly mentioned OptumInsight, a well being industries firm that develops knowledge software program, has signed a contract with the state to construct a stand-alone COVID-19 database.
Ghaly mentioned the partnership will make sure the accuracy of California’s COVID-19 knowledge, after the state discovered quite a few glitches of their data-sets throughout August.
“A couple of weeks again as we labored via a number of the state knowledge system challenges and getting our knowledge backlogs proper, we mentioned that we might be creating a brand new standalone COVID knowledge reporting system,” he mentioned. “And particularly as we take into consideration this elevated variety of exams that the state will see within the months to return. Having a sturdy system is vital.”
In the meantime, as a result of Labor Day is subsequent monday, state well being officers requested the general public to keep away from mass gatherings and going out for the three-day weekend.
“We have made some unimaginable progress collectively as a state within the final a number of weeks and months and we don’t need to lose in that progress so we don’t need to let up our guard,” mentioned Dr. Erica Pan, California’s performing state public well being officer. “It is time to keep vigilant.”
Pan mentioned that if folks select to see others, gatherings ought to be small, transient and outside – all socially distanced.
“The most secure factor so that you can do remains to be to remain at house and stick with folks you reside with,” Pan mentioned. “however in case you do select to be with others, please preserve it exterior, keep your bodily distance, preserve it small, make certain it is transient. The longer you are with others, the extra danger there may be you are uncovered to COVID-19. And ensure you put on your masks.”
Midday Aug. 31: Santa Clara County hospitality industries work on adapting to distant enterprise
As South Bay hair salons and barber retailers are allowed to renew enterprise indoors immediately below stringent state pointers to forestall coronavirus infections, different companies are nonetheless struggling to remain afloat, in keeping with an area gross sales government.
Particularly, Santa Clara County occasion and hospitality industries try to adapt to the continued cancelation of in-person occasions, mentioned Yuliya Vasudev, a gross sales government at South Bay catering service Tony Caters.
Vasudev mentioned the corporate has began to adapt to distant enterprise.
“We try to pivot. We’re looking for artistic methods to supply our companies,” she mentioned. “We’re offering digital cooking kits the place we are able to mail the field of elements to our attendees. That manner we are able to type of proceed doing what we’re doing, however in a secure manner.”The gross sales government mentioned Tony Caters furloughed most of its staff, misplaced a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} and restricted its service as Santa Clara County ordered the mass cancelation of in-person occasions.Though Vasudev mentioned an entire return to enterprise will not be doable till a COVID-19 vaccine is accessible, she’s collaborating with different occasion coordinators to supply net seminars on adapting to pandemic limitations.Vasudev mentioned she’s planning a webinar on Sept. Three at 2 p.m to debate how occasion service suppliers can keep in enterprise and reopen safely.
1 p.m. Aug. 29: California releases revised reopening pointers and upgraded COVID-19 web site
Yellow, orange, purple and purple now type the colour palette for reopening California’s counties.
In a color-coded graph, the colours point out the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in every county based mostly on every county’s case fee and check positivity fee.
The colour-coded tiers are a part of new reopening pointers Gov. Gavin Newsom launched this week after dealing with weeks of stress to make revisions after an abrupt halt to restarting the economic system in June.
Purple reveals a “widespread” danger and means most non-essential indoor companies are closed. Purple reveals a “substantial” danger and orange and yellow point out a “reasonable” and “minimal” danger for reopening, respectively.
“We do not put up inexperienced as a result of we do not consider there’s a inexperienced gentle that claims return to the way in which issues have been or again to the pre-pandemic mindset – fairly the opposite,” Newsom mentioned throughout his each day briefing.
The state additionally began an upgraded website to trace every county’s case numbers and progress in reopening.
The colour-coded tier system, interactive maps and web site type the blueprint for guiding counties on when to reopen, Newsom mentioned.
To be within the yellow zone, for instance, counties will need to have zero COVID-19 circumstances per 100,000 folks and have lower than a 2% check positivity fee, in keeping with the state’s pointers, To be within the purple zone, counties will need to have greater than seven COVID-19 circumstances per 100,000 or have a check positivity fee of greater than 8%.
The case fee is the quantity of latest circumstances per 100,000 folks every day calculated right into a weekly common and the check positivity fee is the share of exams that come again constructive.
Santa Clara County is presently purple with eight COVID-19 circumstances per 100,000 folks and a 3.4% check positivity fee.
It takes two weeks of sustaining metrics to advance and transfer again from every tier.
11:30 a.m. Aug. 29: Santa Clara County Completes greater than 26,000 exams in August
Santa Clara County well being officers have accomplished greater than 26,000 exams in August, regardless of current fires and poor air high quality all through the realm.
“Testing is likely one of the most vital instruments in combatting the pandemic,” mentioned Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 testing officer, in a information launch. “We encourage folks to contact their healthcare supplier when doable, however to know the county is there to shut the testing hole.”
The county continues to supply pop-up testing in San Jose and Gilroy, with no appointment required.
This week well being officers plan to supply appointment-only testing in San Jose, Milpitas, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Los Altos Hills.
The listing beneath reveals the placement and hours of every website.
APPOINTMENT-ONLY SITES
San Jose Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Parking Lot A (throughout from the blue arch): 344 Tully Street in San Jose Appointments: September 1-4, (12 – 6:30 p.m.); September 5 (9 a.m. – Three p.m.)
Milpitas Milpitas Sports activities Heart, 1325 E Calaveras Blvd in Milpitas By appointment just for August 31 (9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.)
Mountain View Heart for Performing Arts, 500 Castro Road in Mountain View By appointment just for September 1 (9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.)
Cupertino Cupertino Senior Heart, 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino By appointment just for September 2 (9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.)
Campbell Orchard Metropolis Banquet Corridor, 1 W. Campbell Ave. in Campbell By appointment just for September 3 (9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.)
Los Altos Hills Council Chambers, 26379 W. Fremont Street in Los Altos Hills By appointment just for September 4 (9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.)
POP-UP TESTING SITES No appointments are wanted for a free and simple nasal swab check at both of those pop-up places.
San Jose William C. Overfelt Excessive College gymnasium – 1835 Cunningham Ave. in San Jose Tuesday through Friday, September 1-4 (10 a.m. – Four p.m.)
Gilroy South County Annex (previously Del Buono Elementary) – 9300 Wren Ave. in Gilroy Tuesday through Friday, September 1-4 (10 a.m. – Four p.m.)
12:15 p.m. Aug. 27: Santa Clara County well being officer slams information CDC testing pointers
Santa Clara County Well being Officer Dr. Sara Cody slammed newly-released pointers from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention advising asymptomatic folks to not get examined for COVID-19.
“After I first heard about this alteration in pointers, I really did not consider it, for it appeared completely weird,” Cody mentioned.
Cody mentioned testing has been an “achilles heal” for the county’s well being response, and elevated testing is a necessity for folks to begin returning to work and college.
“It undercuts our very fundamental tenets of how we management an infectious illness — that testing is our manner out of this epidemic,” Cody mentioned.
Cody suggested anybody who can get examined to take action.
“Whenever you get a check, you realize your standing, you realize whether or not you are infectious and also you want that info for 2 causes,” Cody mentioned. “One, for your self to know whether or not you are going to get extra ailing and to have the ability to watch your signs. Quantity two, you might want to know whether or not you pose a danger to your loved ones and your mates and your coworkers.”
Beneath a brand new plan, the state is aiming to extend its COVID-19 testing provide.
On Aug. 26, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced the state is partnering with genetic testing firm PerkinElmer to construct a lab in California to provide the state with an extra 150,000 exams per day.
5:30 p.m. Aug. 26: State legislator requires revised reopening pointers as salons battle to stay open
Regardless of the push for companies to function outside to forestall COVID-19 unfold, a state lawmaker representing San Jose says it creates further dangers for nail and hair salon homeowners.
Assemblymember Ash Kalra despatched a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom this week demanding the discharge of latest pointers to permit salons to function indoors.
“As historic wildfires proceed to ravage California affecting our air high quality and making it more and more harmful for residents to be outside typically, it’s unattainable to anticipate salons to supply companies outside,” Kalra mentioned within the letter.
He mentioned types to entry small-business loans are sophisticated to fill out and nearly all of salon owners in his San Jose district are Vietnamese and Latina women and might also face language obstacles filling out types.
When COVID-19 circumstances surged in California after reopenings in June, state officers scrambled to revise reopening pointers and to order abrupt closures of various counties.
The consequence was confusion and frustration amongst enterprise homeowners.
Many San Jose nail salon homeowners say doing enterprise outside really creates extra danger than working indoors, in keeping with Kalra. Salon owners in other South Bay cities echoed the same sentiment.
He mentioned out of doors operations may jeopardize tools cleansing and expose purchasers to insufferable warmth and passersby not sporting masks.
Throughout an information convention, Newsom mentioned the state would launch reopening pointers for counties with extra detailed timelines and expectations, however made no point out of revised necessities for private care companies.
2 p.m. Aug. 26: Governor lays out plan to cut back COVID-19 testing prices
Awaiting COVID-19 check outcomes can take nearly two weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned throughout a information convention. The wait is sort of lengthy and the exams are expensive for the state.
“In essence once you’re north of 10, 11, 12 days the exams, dare I say, are fairly ineffective,” Newsom mentioned. “However they’re additionally fairly costly.”
The price of COVID-19 testing for the state is on common $150 to $200 per check, Newsom mentioned.
With a view to curb prices, the governor introduced the state is partnering with genetic testing firm PerkinElmer to construct a lab in California to provide the state with an extra 150,000 exams per day.
Beneath this partnership, Newsom mentioned that if the lab boosts provide to 40,000 exams, the associated fee per check might be $47.99. If provide rises to 100,000 exams, the associated fee per check might be $37.78 and if it rises 150,000 exams the associated fee might be $30.78.
Presently, medical professionals conduct about 100,000 exams per day in California, in keeping with Newsom. He famous that the quantity dropped from 132,000 exams per day due to wildfires burning throughout the state.
Newsom mentioned this may open the door for a safer reopening of the state and for simpler contact tracing.
Midday Aug. 26: Hospital chief says county-owned hospitals have tailored to COVID-19
Jill Sproul, chief nursing officer for the Santa Clara Valley Medical Heart, mentioned hospitals are getting a deal with on treating folks through the COVID-19 pandemic.
She mentioned county-owned hospitals have sufficient capability to soak up sufferers from different counties. There are far fewer folks utilizing the hospital’s critical-care items in comparison with six months in the past, she added.
“I do know this has been very exhausting on households, however we’re lowering households,” Sproul mentioned. “Beneath particular circumstances — finish of life, pediatric sufferers, labor and supply — there are particular circumstances we’re permitting guests.”
The chief nursing officer acknowledged that solitude is usually a burden, and inspired folks to make use of tablets and good telephones to remain in touch. She mentioned county-owned hospitals would offer an iPad if sufferers didn’t have one.
She mentioned medical employees are taking further precautions to forestall COVID-19 transmission at county hospitals.
Triage tents on the hospitals separate sufferers experiencing flu-like signs and employees offers masks to individuals who haven’t got one.
“I see the employees’s confidence and degree of actually understanding learn how to handle these sufferers,” Sproul mentioned. “It’s extremely inspiring to see how we have come collectively as a county and we have come collectively as three hospitals and the way we have come collectively as a neighborhood to handle these sufferers.”
2 p.m. Aug. 25: California HHS Secretary warns of potential COVID-19 unfold throughout hearth evacuations
Throughout an internet information convention, California Well being and Human Companies Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly mentioned he foresees potential COVID-19 unfold amongst folks sheltering from fires.
“The fires are vital and a significant problem, however within the context of COVID, we have to be sure that we do sure issues otherwise, and we consider that these issues have largely been in place and adopted,” Ghaly mentioned. “However I will not be the primary to be shocked if now we have some elevated in transmission in these areas as a result of we’re experiencing totally different situations.”
Emergency response officers ordered about 136,000 folks throughout California to go away their houses due to the fires, Ghaly mentioned.
Of these folks, 3,383 folks from evacuated areas are in “congregate shelters,” he mentioned, which group many individuals in the identical house. Greater than 1,000 individuals are staying in resort rooms, which classify as non-congregate shelters, Ghaly mentioned, and the rest have discovered shelter with family and friends.
However he warned those who hugs and handshakes amongst family and friends can nonetheless unfold the virus.
“They might, due to the stress of COVID-19, the priority across the fires, attain out, give a beloved one a handshake or a hug,” Ghaly mentioned. “And I need to remind you at this second to recollect all the issues we have been speaking about for the final many weeks and months, that that is no time to place down our guard.”
He urged folks to proceed sporting masks, wash their fingers and to search out individualized areas wherever they take shelter.
2:30 p.m. Aug. 24: Newsom assured in COVID-19 protocol throughout fires, state sends masks to shelters
As fires burn throughout California, Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned he is assured within the state’s skill to stability hearth response with decreasing the unfold of COVID-19.
Emergency shelter operators now have the extra duty of guaranteeing folks social distance and put on masks as neighborhoods are evacuated throughout the state.
“I’ve visited most of those shelters over the previous 14 days,” Newsom mentioned.
Newsom mentioned when he visited a Santa Cruz neighborhood faculty facility that was being managed by the native Purple Cross, he was required to put on a masks and to undergo a screening on the door.
“I used to be topic to well being screening, I used to be topic to assessments earlier than I used to be allowed to enter,” Newsom mentioned. “She did not simply take my temperature, however she additionally requested me a sequence of questions.”
He mentioned social distance protocols have been adequately in place and shelters have been taking them critically.
“You noticed cots that have been effectively in extra of 10 toes aside,” Newsom mentioned. “You noticed tape protocols going to the restroom, they’d air purifiers.”
The governor mentioned the one concern he heard was a couple of shelter housing 200 aged those who had hassle guaranteeing social distance between them, regardless of all the seniors sporting masks.
Regardless of the social distancing precautions at shelter, Well being and Human Companies Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly mentioned well being officers confronted a dilemma as a result of fabric masks made it tougher to breath in smoky environments regardless of decreasing the unfold of COVID-19.
One of the best masks to make use of in a hearth are filtered air masks, Ghaly mentioned.
He added that the state has despatched surgical masks and N95 masks to shelters to cut back the unfold of COVID-19 and shield folks from smoke inhalation.
Midday Aug. 24: Free COVID-19 testing accessible at Mexican Heritage Plaza
Individuals in East San Jose can now entry extra free testing.
The College of Arts and Tradition on the Mexican Heritage Plaza has partnered with Gardner Well being Companies and Santa Clara County to create a pop-up testing website on the Mexican Heritage Plaza.
No appointment is required to stroll in and get a check and other people don’t want medical insurance or a physician’s be aware. Getting a check is not going to have an effect on anyone’s immigration standing, well being officers mentioned in a information launch.
Nevertheless, medical employees check folks on a first-come, first-served foundation, and may solely check 300 folks a day.
The positioning might be open from Wednesday-Friday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
11 a.m. Aug. 24: Santa Clara County urges immigrants to fill out 2020 census type
As coronavirus has taken a disproportionate toll on the immigrant neighborhood, Santa Clara County officers urged households to take the census.
Zelica Rodriguez, the county’s director of immigrant relations, mentioned throughout an internet briefing that COVID-19 has stifled civic engagement inside immigrant communities.
“I believe that folks perceive the significance of 2020, the census, being civically concerned and engaged, however it actually has created extra chaos in our neighborhood and albeit extra of a neighborhood that is remoted,” Rodriguez mentioned.
Thus far, about 26% of individuals in Santa Clara County nonetheless have to fill out the census. The deadline to fill out the census is Sept. 30.
“With each one who is not counted that is 1000’s of federal {dollars} not coming to our particular person neighborhood, funding vital social security applications in addition to our COVID reduction,” mentioned Nick Kuwada, this system supervisor for the county’s 2020 Census.
Rodriguez mentioned lots of the folks being ignored are most definitely immigrants and mentioned county employees might be knocking on doorways encouraging folks to fill out the shape.
“Immigrant communities are nonetheless being undercounted, we’re not filling out our surveys,” Rodriguez mentioned. “As exhausting as it has been within the final couple of months with the citizenship query, with simply actually not plenty of encouragement within the media to fill out the census. Encouraging our neighborhood to fill out the census, it issues greater than ever.”
The citizenship query just isn’t on the Census, Kuwada mentioned, and private info will not be disclosed to federal and native authorities businesses.
“You pay your taxes each single yr,” Kuwada mentioned. “Solely as soon as each ten years you get the chance to say ‘what’s my piece, what do I get again for my household, my technology of children that reside on this neighborhood?’ “
2 p.m. Aug. 23: Medical skilled says vaccine creation will not be on the spot repair for COVID-19
Gaining herd immunity from COVID-19 requires way more than discovering a vaccine.
Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiology professor at UC San Francisco, mentioned the obstacles to reopening throughout an internet city corridor with Santa Clara County Supervisor George Simitian on Aug. 23.
Rutherford mentioned as soon as a vaccine is developed, guaranteeing everyone seems to be vaccinated might be a frightening job.
“It is going to take a very long time to get 40,000 folks vaccinated within the state,” he mentioned. “That is assuming we even have the provides to do it.”
The epidemiologist added that one other problem for well being officers might be to make sure folks get a double dose 28 days aside.
“Even when all people bought vaccinated on Jan. 1, you’d all must be revaccinated on Feb. 1, with a purpose to be protected,” Rutherford mentioned.
With a view to purchase herd immunity, at the least 70% of individuals should be proof against the virus, Rutherford mentioned. He added that restrictions on public gatherings should stay in place as a result of rushed reopenings of companies have led to resurgences in case numbers in California.
“These sorts of draconian shutdowns can work when it comes to lowering transmission,” Rutherford mentioned. “However in case you allow them to up too rapidly and other people aren’t being attentive to masking, social distancing, all these sorts of issues, then you may get it again as unhealthy because it was, if not worse.”
5 p.m. Aug. 22: COVID-19 testing continues in Santa Clara County as fires worsen air high quality
Santa Clara County will proceed COVID-19 testing from Aug. 23 to Aug. 29 as smoke from fires across the South Bay pollute the air.
“Sadly, COVID-19 doesn’t take a break throughout hearth emergencies. The county continues to supply free, straightforward and fast turnaround testing for the general public,” mentioned Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the county’s COVID-19 testing officer. “Testing is one in every of our greatest instruments for slowing the unfold of COVID-19, and the county will proceed testing even below these tough circumstances.”
Well being officers reported 196 new COVID-19 circumstances on Aug. 22 and numbers reported all through the week present 11 folks have died from the illness since Aug. 18.
Testing websites remaining open through the fires will both be drive-thru or indoors and an inventory of the places and hours of web sites is beneath.
Read the full San José Spotlight story here.
Appointment-based testing websites
San Jose Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Parking Lot A (throughout from Gate B) — Tully Street in San Jose Appointments Tuesday-Friday, August 25-28, 12 – 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 29, 9 – Three p.m.
Sunnyvale Murphy Park, 260 N. Sunnyvale Ave. in Sunnyvale By appointment just for Monday, August 24, 9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.
Morgan Hill Council Chamber Constructing, 17555 Peak Ave. in Morgan Hill By appointment just for Tuesday, August 25, 9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.
Santa Clara Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Street in Santa Clara By appointment just for Wednesday, August 26, 9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.
Saratoga Friendship Corridor, 19841 Prospect Street in Saratoga By appointment just for Thursday, August 27, 9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.
Palo Alto Artwork Heart Auditorium, 1313 Newell Street in Palo Alto By appointment just for Friday, August 28, 9:30 a.m. – Four p.m.
To schedule an appointment, go to https://direc.to/eyD1 or www.sccfreetest.org.
Pop-up testing websites No appointments are wanted for a free and simple nasal swab check at both of those pop-up places.
San Jose William C. Overfelt Excessive College gymnasium – 1835 Cunningham Ave. in San Jose Tuesday to Friday, Aug. 25-28, 10 a.m. to three p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gilroy South County Annex (previously Del Buono Elementary) – 9300 Wren Ave. in Gilroy Tuesday to Friday, Aug. 25-28, 10 a.m. to Four p.m.
Four p.m. Aug. 22: Silicon Valley unemployment sees slight decline, nonetheless alarmingly excessive
Individuals are beginning to return to work in Santa Clara County however unemployment remains to be alarmingly excessive.
After unemployment reached a historic peak of 11.6% in April, it declined to 9.3% in July, in keeping with a examine launched Aug. 21 by Joint Enterprise Silicon Valley, a bunch that gives evaluation on the Silicon Valley economic system and high quality of life.
“We certainly not need to diminish that just about 21,000 jobs have been added to our regional economic system,” mentioned Rachel Massaro, the analysis director for the group’s institute for regional research. “But, once you have a look at the rise in unemployment that occurred at first of the shelter in place (order), it is exhausting to have a look at this slight decline within the unemployment fee as progress.”
Massaro mentioned the pandemic has muddied up any clear forecast of job development within the subsequent few months. Normally employment ties on to the economic system however researchers now must account for public well being in predicting when enterprise will growth once more.
“Proper now could be a really distinctive time wherein the unemployment fee is primarily pushed by authorities insurance policies to cut back transmission charges to maintain our inhabitants wholesome,” she mentioned. “So, these industries which are closed or are very exhausting to reopen, given the social distancing necessities, are those which have the best unemployment proper now.”
Read the full San José Spotlight story.
11 a.m. Aug. 19: COVID-19 testing websites stay open amid poor air high quality, fires
Exterior is the final place to be in San Jose this week as air high quality has reached unhealthy ranges due to fires burning across the South Bay.
Nevertheless, all Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing websites will stay open, in keeping with a information launch.
Well being officers mentioned the new drive-thru testing site on the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds will stay be totally useful regardless of the smoky air.
Individuals with appointments can nonetheless get swabbed, mentioned county spokesperson Betty Duong throughout an internet livestream.
Though companies can proceed working exterior, well being officers really helpful that enterprise homeowners cut back their hours and other people keep indoors.
“I do know it is a powerful time for all of our companies to be functioning,” Duong mentioned. “However your well being does come first and the air is simply not wholesome immediately.”
She added that the poor air high quality has stalled a COVID-19 outreach program in East San Jose and Gilroy.
Though chilling on the mall or the films for air-con just isn’t an possibility proper now, a number of cooling facilities are open to the general public all through Santa Clara County.
The listing beneath reveals the placement of every cooling middle. Everyone should social distance and put on a masks, and county officers urge folks with COVID-19 signs to not enter.
Open Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 17-19 from 1:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- Roosevelt Group Heart 901 E. Santa Clara St. in San Jose
- Mayfair Group Heart 2039 Kammerer Ave. in San Jose
Open Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 17-19 from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Mountain View Group Heart, 201 South Rengstorff Avenue in Mountain View
Open Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 17-19 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
- Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga
- Gilroy Library, 350 W. sixth Road in Gilroy
Open Monday-Tuesday, Aug. 17-18 from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Campbell Group Heart, Q80 (Roosevelt Redwood Room), 1 W. Campbell Avenue in Campbell
Open Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 17-19 from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Cupertino Senior Heart, 21251 Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino
Open Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 17-19 from 1:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Santa Clara Senior Heart, 1303 Fremont Road in Santa Clara
Open Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 17-19 from 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Centennial Recreation Heart, 171 W. Edmundson in Morgan Hill
Open Tuesday-Wednesday, August 18-19 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Milpitas Sports activities Heart, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd. in Milpitas
Open Tuesday-Wednesday, August 18-19 from 1:00-6:00 p.m.
- Mitchell Park Group Heart, 3700 Middlefield Street in Palo Alto
6 p.m. Aug. 18: Santa Clara County steps up penalties for companies violating well being order
Companies that do not adjust to Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 well being order could must pay $250 to $5,000 in fines per day below an ordinance handed by county supervisors on Aug. 11.
Already, well being officers mentioned they’ve issued violation notices to 5 institutions for not complying with the well being order.
Environmental Well being Director Michael Balliet, who oversees well being inspections, mentioned the county can penalize companies for a wide range of violations to the county’s COVID-19 mandates. “They vary from indoor operations to masking to not following separation on tables,” Balliet mentioned.
He mentioned the county normally enforces well being violations after receiving studies from the general public of poor practices by the enterprise.
Nevertheless, some institutions could obtain a grace interval to resolve any violations to the order.
“As soon as the discover of violation is issued to the enterprise, they’ll have wherever from no grace interval or as much as 72 hours and there may be some enforcement officer discretion based mostly on how egregious the violation is,” Balliet mentioned.
Three of the companies that obtained notices of violation had already mounted their issues, Balliet mentioned.
Well being officers didn’t disclose which companies have been in violation and would solely launch the names if they’d not resolved the problems by the tip of the grace interval, in keeping with county spokesperson Roger Ross.
2 p.m. Aug. 18: Testing website at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds to check 5,000 each day
A brand new drive-thru COVID-19 testing website on the Santa Clara County fairgrounds opened immediately and is about to check at the least 5,000 folks a day, well being officers mentioned.
The fairgrounds website might be appointment-only and can check on the highest capability within the area, mentioned Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 testing officer.
“At this level the county is doing about 40% of all of the testing in all the county,” Fenstersheib mentioned. “We’re doing extra testing at this website, as a mass website, than wherever in Northern California.”
Well being officers mentioned the drive-thru website would make it simpler for folks experiencing COVID-19 signs to get a swab check.
“It does not damage, it is simple and free,” Fenstersheib mentioned. “You do not want any medical insurance coverage.”
The positioning will moreover have a pedestrian testing lane for individuals who haven’t got vehicles, he mentioned, however all people nonetheless must make an appointment.
However Fenstersheib mentioned well being officers may increase the positioning to walk-up testing with out appointments within the close to future.
Read the full San José Spotlight here.
1 p.m. Aug. 17: Santa Clara County stays on state watchlist
Santa Clara County stays on the state’s county monitoring listing for COVID-19 circumstances, which incorporates 42 counties.
If counties stay on the listing for greater than three days, gyms, purchasing malls, nail salons, church buildings and barbershops want to stay closed below the state’s necessities.
With a view to be faraway from the listing, every county should present their case quantity developments are steady for a interval of three days. The state simply eliminated Santa Cruz County from the listing.
“It is a dynamic listing. Individuals come on, folks come off,” Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned throughout his briefing Monday. “The numbers shift each single week and I anticipate this week, the numbers to shift once more.”
Nevertheless, being faraway from the listing doesn’t essentially imply companies will reopen instantly. Newsom mentioned the State Well being Officer has to concur with any plans to permit nonessential companies to renew in every county taken off the listing.
However it seems some counties haven’t had a easy course of being faraway from the listing or obtained clear steerage on reopening.
Though the governor introduced he plans to take San Diego County off the listing as quickly as tomorrow, a KPBS reporter questioned him about county leaders missing steerage to reopen companies and dealing with a two-day delay to be faraway from the watch listing.
Newsom didn’t reply whether or not or not new reopening steerage can be launched for counties and didn’t contact on why there could have been delays taking San Diego County off the listing.
10 a.m. Aug. 17: Lengthy waits proceed for COVID-19 check outcomes from Santa Clara County
Do not anticipate COVID-19 check outcomes from Santa Clara County too quickly.
“In the event you’re anticipating 72 hours in your outcomes. It isn’t taking place for us proper now,” mentioned Todd Naffziger, a Santa Clara County well being spokesperson, throughout a briefing Monday.
Regardless of rising accessible COVID-19 exams to 600 to 750 per day at appointment-only websites and introducing new pop-up websites, the county is unable to supply check outcomes inside 72 hours, in keeping with Naffziger.
“That is a query we’re getting rather a lot proper now as a result of as individuals are going again to highschool, individuals are touring for enterprise, there’s further rules and necessities going into place,” Naffziger mentioned.
If individuals are in dire want of receiving quick outcomes, he really helpful checking with different well being care suppliers for a faster turnaround. Naffziger nonetheless inspired use of the county’s COVID-19 testing websites and mentioned exams are offered for free of charge, no matter insurance coverage standing.
12 p.m. Aug. 15: New testing websites introduced
Santa Clara County well being leaders on Saturday introduced new COVID-19 testing websites opening in San Jose, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Milpitas.
The brand new websites provide drop-in and appointment-based testing with extra appointment slots added attributable to excessive demand, county officers mentioned.
Appointments might be made beginning three days earlier than the testing date till all slots are taken. County leaders mentioned appointments refill quickly – most have been booked inside two days of availability – so the county elevated exams accessible per day from 600 to 750.
“Just like the pop-up websites, the appointment-based websites are proving to be highly regarded,” mentioned Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 testing officer for Santa Clara County. “It is a good match for people preferring a time slot upfront, particularly in the event that they reside or work close to the positioning. However we advise these in search of a time slot to behave quick when reservations can be found to safe an appointment at a time that most closely fits their schedule.”
Scheduled walk-up appointments can be found Monday via Friday in Los Gatos, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Milpitas on the following places:
Los Gatos — Los Gatos Grownup Recreation Heart: 208 E. Important St. in Los Gatos Monday: 9:30 a.m. to Four p.m.
Mountain View — Heart for the Performing Arts: 500 Castro St. in Mountain View Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to Four p.m.
Cupertino — Cupertino Senior Heart: 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to Four p.m.
Campbell — Orchard Metropolis Banquet Corridor: 1 W. Campbell Ave. in Campbell Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to Four p.m.
Milpitas — Milpitas Sports activities Heart: 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd. in Milpitas Friday: 9:30 a.m. to Four p.m.
No appointments are wanted for a free and simple nasal swab check at both of those pop-up places.
San Jose — William C. Overfelt Excessive College gymnasium: 1835 Cunningham Ave. in San Jose Tuesday to Friday: 1 p.m. to six p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gilroy — South County Annex (previously Del Buono Elementary): 9300 Wren Avenue in Gilroy Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. to three p.m.
County well being officers suggested residents to reach early on the pop-up check websites, which use a wristband system wherein individuals are assigned a testing time later within the day. The time slots usually refill inside hours.
There are greater than 50 COVID-19 testing websites in Santa Clara County.
2 p.m. Aug. 14: College’s again in session, governor lays out plan to boost distance studying
Laptops, WiFi and tablets will do no good if college students lack interplay with their academics, California Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned throughout an internet information convention Friday.
“We simply don’t desire folks to take their lectures and simply video tape them after which present them on-line,” Newsom mentioned. “You’ll be able to simply go to YouTube and just about get that on each topic that is been debated because the starting of mankind.”
The governor introduced a set of latest state necessities for faculties to provide expertise to all youngsters enrolled, to make sure academics meet with their college students each day and to create difficult assignments equal to work for in-person courses.
As well as, faculties should adapt classes for kids studying English as a second language and college students in particular training.
The state has delivered 73,000 units and 100,000 hotspots to college students and secured $5.Three billion of CARES Act cash for faculties. Newsom mentioned 81% of the CARES Act funds would go to low-income college students, homeless college students, foster youth, English language learners and college students with disabilities.
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond mentioned his division is targeted on studying what the social and emotional wants of scholars are.
Though Newsom mentioned faculties are a prime precedence for the state in offering funding and expertise, he additionally introduced an Govt Order to enhance state broadband and web entry to folks missing web throughout California.
The plan goals to enhance web obtain speeds to 100 megabytes per second and to revive the State Broadband Council to develop an motion plan to shut the digital divide.
10 a.m. Aug. 14: Registrar of Voters explains how Election Day will work throughout pandemic
Packing a polling location is the very last thing folks need to do throughout a pandemic.
Nevertheless, Santa Clara County vote facilities will open for 4 days beginning Oct. 31, in keeping with Shannon Bushey, the Santa Clara County registrar of voters.
“The most secure option to vote is to vote from house,” Bushey mentioned. “However for these of you that will want in-person voting as a result of now we have accessible voting machines or perhaps as they are saying ‘the canine ate your poll and also you want a substitute poll,’ you may come to any one in every of our voting facilities.”
Individuals can drop off ballots at greater than 90 drop-off bins for ballots across the county and may use greater than 100 vote facilities, Bushey mentioned. Employees on the facilities will present private protecting tools, language help and substitute ballots for voters.
Employees members and volunteers can have private protecting tools and be behind plexiglass obstacles to forestall coronavirus infections. Moreover, due to the Voter’s Alternative Act, each registered voter will obtain a mail-in poll with a free postage-paid envelope.
Bushey mentioned her employees will rely any poll postmarked by Election Day that they obtain inside 17 days.
As well as, she mentioned navy personnel and other people dwelling abroad who’re registered voters in Santa Clara County will have the ability to entry a safe connection to print out ballots that they’ll mail again to the registrar’s workplace.
Oct. 19 is the final day to register to vote. After that folks can have to enroll in conditional voter registration.
6 p.m. Aug. 13: Research reveals neck gaiter masks could ease unfold of coronavirus
Duke College researchers discovered {that a} neck gaiter comprised of skinny polyester cloth really dispersed droplets of germs folks emit as they converse – making it simpler for the coronavirus to unfold via the air.
In different phrases, sporting that specific neck gaiter as a face protecting can be worse than sporting no masks in any respect.
In the intervening time, San Jose’s masks requirement permits folks to put on any piece of cloth that covers their face.
“We attribute that to the mesh, the material really dispersing a few of these droplets, so turning the larger droplets right into a bunch of little droplets, which in fact will increase the variety of whole droplets,” mentioned Martin Fischer, an affiliate analysis professor of chemistry at Duke College, throughout a Zoom name.
Fischer focuses on creating mechanisms for molecular imagery and needed to seize photos of droplets doubtlessly carrying coronavirus.
To seek out the scale of those droplets emitted with and with out masks, researchers mentioned the phrases ‘keep wholesome, folks’ right into a darkish house with a laser going via it. The skinny sheet of sunshine from the laser illuminated every droplet folks emitted whereas talking.
The sunshine confirmed barely any droplets from individuals who spoke with a valveless N95 masks and cotton masks, Fischer mentioned, however it uncovered a lot tinier particles from folks sporting the neck gaiter.
“What makes that considerably regarding, is you may emit an enormous droplet and it’d fall to the bottom, the little droplets have a neater time hovering within the air or perhaps being carried away by air currents,” Fischer mentioned.
The professor clarified that this was not a complete examine and neck gaiters with thicker cloth may very well be efficient for blocking particles.
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