California coronavirus updates: The latest on the pandemic

A batch of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine failed quality standards and can’t be used, the drug giant said late Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The drugmaker didn’t say how many doses were lost, and it wasn’t clear how the problem would impact future deliveries. Photo by Ted S. Warren, AP Photo

Coronavirus

J&J vaccine encounters glitch as state expands eligibility

Word of the company’s manufacturing glitch comes just as California expands vaccinations to people 50 and older.

By Barbara Feder Ostrov • April 1, 2021

Ouida Dill, left, blows a kiss to her husband David at the end of their near-daily visit at Lincoln Glen Skilled Nursing Facility on March 29, 2021 in San Jose. David has been a resident at Lincoln Glen for more than four years and throughout the pandemic, Ouida has continued to see him almost everyday for visits through a window but now that Ouida is vaccinated they are able to see each other indoors again. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Finally some good news for California nursing home residents

More than 9,000 people have died of COVID-19 in California nursing homes, and many others have suffered from isolation. But after a massive vaccination campaign, infections and deaths have plummeted — and nursing homes are cautiously reopening to visitors.

By Barbara Feder Ostrov • April 1, 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles on April 1, 2021. Photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

Politics

Carrots, sticks and jabs: What will California do to win over vaccine skeptics?

With millions of vaccine holdouts, the state is holding off on tough measures — for now. But if events and ads aren’t enough, how far will legislators go?

By Ben Christopher • April 1, 2021

Palo Alto resident Margaret Park, 91, is accompanied by her son to the waiting area after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 9, 2021. The 49ers arena opened on Tuesday as a vaccine distribution site for Santa Clara County residents 65 and older and is expected to inoculate up to 15,000 people per day once supplies become available. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Vaccine appointments may be backed up for several weeks

The CEO of Blue Shield predicts it will take until the end of April to ease California’s backlog. “When you make millions of people eligible overnight, there's not millions of appointments immediately available,” he told CalMatters.

By Barbara Feder Ostrov and Ana B. Ibarra • March 26, 2021

Alameda County health workers prepare syringes with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a distribution clinic at St. Rose hospital in Hayward on Jan. 27, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Californians 50 and older eligible for vaccinations next week

In addition, everyone 16 and older will be eligible April 15. State officials expect a surge in COVID-19 vaccine supply.

By Ana B. Ibarra • March 25, 2021

Patients and hospital staff wear masks outside of Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Feb. 12, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Hospitals in much of California begin reopening to visitors

With counties moving to less-restrictive tiers and the state loosening visitation restrictions, hospitals are gradually allowing more visitors for non-COVID-19 patients. Some are moving immediately on new state recommendations, while others are weighing the risks.

By Rachel Becker • March 24, 2021

Jonathan, 4, works on an art project with help from his therapist, left, and mother, Natalia Acosta, right, during online preschool at his him in Tracy on March 3, 2021. He is among California's special-needs students who have faced special challenges during the pandemic. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

K-12 Education

Special-needs children still seek help after year adrift

Many parents report that their special-needs students have gone backward in development during the pandemic-isolating past year.

By Ricardo Cano and Elizabeth Aguilera • March 22, 2021

Coronavirus

Fewer jobs, more wine: California’s deadly COVID year in 9 charts

On March 19, 2020 Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a statewide shelter-in-place order. In response to an unprecedented public health threat, it was an equally unprecedented shuttering of day-to-day life. “This is not a permanent state,” Newsom assured us at the time. “This is a moment in time. And we will meet this moment together.” On […]

By Jeremia Kimelman and Ben Christopher • March 17, 2021

Jose Rosas and his wife, Sara, who live in the 90060 zip code, wait in line to be screened for high temperature before being vaccinated at the St. John's Well Child and Family Center COVID-19 vaccination site at the East Los Angeles Civic Center in Los Angeles on March 4, 2021. California has just crossed the threshold of 2 million vaccines administered in underserved communities allowing many counties to move more easily into less restrictive tiers. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

Coronavirus

California hit critical milestone for reopening today

Here’s what you need to know about what happens now that the state delivered 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to low-income communities. Thirteen counties will move to a less restrictive tier on Sunday, and some businesses will reopen on Monday.

By Ana B. Ibarra and Rachel Becker • March 12, 2021

Mauricio Chavez of Hollister gets a COVID-19 vaccine at Monterey Mushrooms in Morgan Hill on Feb. 28, 2021. He works at a neighboring mushroom farm. Photo by Ana Ibarra, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Eager to be vaccinated, California farmworkers face obstacles

About 73% of farmworkers said they would get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, but vaccination clinics at farm worksites are still infrequent and reliant on scarce supply.

By Ana B. Ibarra • March 8, 2021