California coronavirus updates: The latest on the pandemic

Coronavirus

Faced with dying Californians and withering businesses, Gov. Newsom steers a middle path. Can it last?

As coronavirus infections and deaths rise dramatically, the Democratic governor navigates pressure to both tighten restrictions and ease up on businesses.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• August 6, 2020

A doctor listens to a man's breathing at a clinic in Bieber, California on July 23, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Health

Pandemic snafu: State mistakenly drops Medi-Cal coverage for some low-income Californians

An error involving the state’s automated system for Medi-Cal renewals triggered at least some of the drops in coverage, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders that recipients remain on the rolls during the coronavirus crisis.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• August 5, 2020

Health

Going down? Maybe not. State reports technical glitch led to COVID-19 undercount

The buggy system was revealed a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom reported a welcome drop in the state’s positivity rate. An undercount hampers counties’ ability to investigate cases.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• August 4, 2020

Health

So you think your California county is tracing contacts of sick people? Maybe not.

Most counties, even those with thousands of COVID-19 cases, attempt to notify everyone exposed. But seven inform only high-risk people — and another isn’t even doing that.

By

Rebecca Sohn

,

Ana B. Ibarra

and

Manuela Tobias

• July 29, 2020

Coronavirus

The new hot spot: Newsom targets Central Valley for $52 million coronavirus aid

Eight Central Valley counties will get help with staffing, testing and contact testing to try and slow the virus’ deadly spread, particularly among essential workers.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• July 27, 2020

Farmworkers around the Watsonville community pick strawberries as the Watsonville Campesino Appreciation Caravan passes through on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Today, Gov. Newsom announced a new housing program for farmworkers that will provide hotel rooms for those who need to isolate due to COVID-19. Photo by David Rodriguez, The Salinas Californian

Economy

Newsom signals more protections coming for essential workers, including hotel rooms for farmworkers

The new program, which will rely mostly on federal money, will provide hotel rooms for agricultural workers who test positive or were exposed to the coronavirus so they can safely isolate.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• July 24, 2020

Coronavirus

COVID contact tracers: Inside the work of California’s disease detectives

What's it like to try to track the spread of a coronavirus outbreak? CalMatters goes inside the world of Los Angeles County's busy contact tracers.

By

Meredith Lackey

• July 23, 2020

Health

Abundance or shortage? Newsom and hospitals at odds over mask supply for health care workers

As the state reported a record number of single day coronavirus cases of 12,807, Newsom said hospitals are not adequately distributing masks to workers. The state's hospital association contends the supply chain "remains spotty."

By

Laurel Rosenhall

and

Ana B. Ibarra

• July 22, 2020

Guests dine on Glassell Street outside of Citrus City Grill and Smoqued California Barbecue in Orange on July 8, 2020 after the city closed off sections of Glassell Street to allow restaurants in Old Towne Orange to offer outdoor dining on the sidewalk and streets to comply with the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG

Economy

From internet rights to streeteries, how the pandemic is changing working from home

In an event co-hosted by CalMatters and the Milken Institute, policymakers and advocates explain where they see the state heading — and why California desperately needs to bridge its digital divide.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• July 21, 2020

Vietnam veteran Jerry Hogan at Lindsay Gardens after testing positive for COVID-19 a week ago, in Lindsay, CA on April 28, 2020. Hogan, was put into the facility to receive lifesaving therapy, but instead, has not been receiving any therapy after patients at the facility began falling ill from the virus. Hogan is the father of photojournalist Jeremy Hogan, who made this image during his visit. Photo by Jeremy Hogan, SOPA Images/Sipa USA via AP Images

Coronavirus

Feds to send COVID tests to nursing homes, but can California really use them?

State health officials were caught off guard by the federal government’s plan, as the tests are less accurate and may be of limited use in California’s nursing homes.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• July 17, 2020