Further: Golden State’s new COVID-19 cases are down 32%, emaciated sea lions are showing up in Ventura County, and $ 600 state-issued stimulus checks approved for households low income.
It’s the start of a new week, and I’m Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs.
In California brings you the best Golden State stories and commentary from the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it for free, straight to your inbox.
An update on the COVID-19 vaccine
Let the party begin with some of Monday’s immunization numbers: California administered 7.3 million doses of COVID-19 out of the 8.8 million that have been delivered statewide. The state shipped 9.3 million doses. According to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, about 2 million of the 6 million doses delayed by last week’s winter weather were delivered over the weekend. As for the rest, “We plan to catch up quickly this week,” Psaki told ABC.
Newsom promises more photos for central valley farm workers
Other vaccines are directed to the vast central valley of California, an agricultural region whose workers and residents have been hit hard by the coronavirus, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday.
The multi-county region, which includes the cities of Fresno and Bakersfield, will receive many more vaccines this week dedicated to farm workers. The governor has made equitable access to the coronavirus vaccine a priority, and the change in allocation formula comes as the state sets out to inoculate others beyond healthcare workers into jobs essentials, including food, agricultural workers and teachers.
“These are the people who never took a day off, these are the people who never complained, these are the people who wake up every day and (are) there for all of us so that we can live. our lives, “Newsom” It’s not just Californians who benefit, it’s people across the country and around the world. “
It was not immediately clear what the state’s decision to send more doses to the valley would mean for other areas. California began the transition to a distribution system run by insurance giant Blue Shield on Sunday, starting with the Central Valley. Vaccine suppliers will now need to use a state website called My Tour to schedule immunization appointments. Newsom acknowledged that “there will invariably be bumps along the way.”
Governor pushes schools to reopen again
Calling attention to the city of Long Beach as a “demonstrable leader” in COVID-19 vaccination efforts, In particular to vaccinate teachers, Newsom again pressured authorities across the state on Monday to speed up any measures necessary to get students back to in-person classes.
Newsom has put forward measures to prioritize vaccinations for teachers – recently announcing that 10% of all first-dose vaccines the state receives will be reserved for educators and educators – but he insists schools can reopen before all these workers are vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also said vaccinations are not a prerequisite for schools to open.
But many teachers’ unions – including United Teachers Los Angeles – have hesitated at the idea, suggesting injections should be necessary and the state should achieve a lower case transmission rate before in-person classes resume.
Newsom has lobbied for a $ 6 billion school reopening plan in Sacramento, but negotiations with state lawmakers have stalled. The governor balked at a plan announced last week by legislative leaders, saying it would actually slow the pace of school reopens.
New COVID-19 cases in California down 32% from previous week
However, there is some encouraging news: The Golden State reported significantly fewer cases of the coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, adding 46,005 new cases. This represents a decrease of 32.2% compared to the toll of 67,859 new cases the previous week.
A USA TODAY network analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University shows California is ranked 26th among states with the fastest coronavirus spread per person. In the past week, the United States added 489,902 reported coronavirus cases, a 23% decrease from the previous week. Across the country, six states recorded more cases in the past week than the week before.
But across California, new cases have fallen in 48 of 58 counties, with declines most marked in Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties.
Emaciated sea lions showing up in Ventura, Santa Barbara
Last week a woman spotted a tiny, skinny sea lion lying near some rocks on a beach in Ventura County. Emaciated and lethargic, the animal was taken to the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI), a center that rescues and rehabilitates stranded marine mammals found in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
The puppy weighed 37 pounds. Born in May and June, a healthy puppy would weigh around 55 to 65 pounds at this time of year. Undernourished puppies may have weaned too early or have difficulty feeding on their own. The weather could also be to blame.
So far in 2021, 15 animals have been rescued by CIMWI – 13 have been found along the coast of Ventura County. All were California sea lions and all were malnourished.
What to do if you see a stranded marine mammal? Give the animal its space and call a rescue center. Do not try to put it back in the water; they come out of the water for a reason. Sick marine mammals are often restless, disoriented and confused. They are wild animals and can react aggressively or bite if approached. For more information, visit cimwi.org or Fisheries.noaa.gov/report.
Mouth-sized news cocks
Because someone invented TL; DR for a reason.
- This just in: Under a plan approved by the state legislature on Monday, millions of low-income gold state residents will receive $ 600 this spring, in addition to stimulus checks issued by the federal government. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that help is also underway for small businesses, which will be offered grants and tax deductions to keep them afloat. “Our small businesses are dying, and we just can’t let this happen,” said Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Laguna Beach, Assembly Member. Newsom was due to sign the measures on Tuesday.
- Edie Ceccarelli, Northern California resident survived six younger siblings, two husbands, a daughter and three grandchildren. It has also experienced 21 presidential administrations and two pandemics that occur once a century. And at 113 years old, she is believed to be the oldest native of California. The Los Angeles Times reports that Ceccarelli attributed its longevity to red wine at dinner, long walks and “good Italian genes.”
- An entire California school board in the town of Oakley in the Bay Area quit After members were overheard disparaging parents in a meeting, they didn’t realize their comments were being broadcast. According to a report from kiro7.com, the comments included that of a woman saying she “(swore)” a relative who called her on social media. Another said that parents attacked the school board “because they wanted their babysitter to come back. And yet another suggested that parents wanted their children to go back to school so that they – the parents – could stay home and smoke marijuana. The Contra Costa County School Board says the members of the school board will be replaced on an interim basis.
In California, a roundup of news from the editorial staff of the USA Today Network. Also contributing: kiro7.com, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle. We’ll be back to your inbox tomorrow with the latest headlines.
As the Philanthropy and Special Sections Editor of The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising, and people giving in the Coachella Valley. Contact him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.