California coronavirus updates: The latest on the pandemic

Shoppers wearing face masks walk past a sale sign and a Christmas tree at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach. Photo by Ashley Landis/AP

Coronavirus

California COVID forecast darkens after holiday celebrations

Gov. Gavin Newsom said California could see “a surge on top of a surge arguably on top of a surge" after the holidays.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• December 28, 2020

Health

Who’s next? Counties lobbied over vaccine priority list

Once the state issues its recommendations, California’s 58 counties will have some flexibility on who’s next to receive vaccinations. That discretion has sparked lobbying by unions, businesses and other interest groups trying to push their workers ahead in the line.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

and

Ana B. Ibarra

• December 21, 2020

A passenger boards a Bakersfield-bound train at the Emeryville Amtrak station on Dec. 16, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Coronavirus

A bumpy ride for California’s Amtrak as pandemic surges

Amtrak has lost a staggering $800 million, with California’s three routes losing 65-85% of passengers. Service has been cut back substantially.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• December 16, 2020

Coronavirus

Can California protect COVID-19 vaccine from cheaters and fraudsters?

State leaders believe the rich and influential will have a hard time cutting in line to get the first precious doses of the vaccine, reserved for health workers and nursing homes.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• December 15, 2020

Demonstrators march toward the west gate entrance of San Quentin State Prison on Aug. 2, 2020. Over 700 people gathered to demand Gov. Newsom and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation do more to protect incarcerated people from COVID-19. Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo, Bay Area News Group

Justice

High-risk inmates aren’t prioritized in state’s early releases

More than 7,500 prisoners sent home in the program — which aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 — would have been released within months anyway. Thousands with health conditions remain in prison, and the virus keeps spreading.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• December 11, 2020

A technician conducts COVID-19 tests at a new facility Friday in Valencia on Oct. 30, 2020. The lab, run by PerkinElmer, was expected to allow the state to process an additional 150,000 COVID-19 tests per day but so far result times have lagged. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo/Pool

Coronavirus

COVID tests lagging: Slower turnaround times creeping back for Californians

The average turnaround time for COVID-19 test results rose 30% in November as people flocked to test sites before Thanksgiving. Pressure on labs is expected to intensify.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• December 11, 2020

At the median of his first term, Gov. Gavin Newsom has faced vexing challenges — some of his own making. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Politics

Midway through plagued first term, Newsom’s career hits make-or-break point

How California’s governor manages a critical COVID surge and its economic blows will likely define his political future. Will he recover from recent stumbles?

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• December 10, 2020

A cordoned off playground in South Central LA, on Dec. 8., 2020. Photo by Tash Kimmell for CalMatters.

Coronavirus

Playgrounds stay open: State backtracks on outdoor play area ban

Amid pushback from parents and lawmakers, the state modified its strict new stay-at-home order that had closed outdoor playgrounds to slow coronavirus spread.

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• December 9, 2020

Dr. Rafik Abdou checks on a COVID-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 2020. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

Coronavirus

California’s intensive care nightmare: Which hospitals are full?

In the worst-hit counties, some hospitals are sending critically ill patients to other counties. Others are keeping ICU patients in crowded emergency rooms. Imperial, Kings, San Benito, Madera and Fresno are among those in the worst shape.

By

Rachel Becker

• December 9, 2020

The Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco's Union Square boarded up on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

Coronavirus

Your questions answered about California’s new winter stay-at-home order

Gov. Gavin Newsom has imposed another stay-at-home order, the strictest since March. Here’s what we know so far about that.

By

Richard Procter

• December 4, 2020