covid-19

K-12 Education

Parents lose patience over school mask mandate

A top state health official provided little new information on Monday. Public health experts say it might be time to take more steps towards normalcy at schools.

By

Joe Hong

• February 15, 2022

A student wears a mask while waiting for class to start amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School on Jan. 12, 2022, in Lynwood. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

WhatMatters

Masks still required in California schools — for now

Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state's top health official, says the California schools COVID mask mandate will stay in place, but could change Feb. 28.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 15, 2022

Alisson Argueta, 8, is given a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at a back-to-school clinic in South Gate, Los Angeles on August 12, 2021. Photo by Lucy Nichols/REUTERS

WhatMatters

Big COVID changes could land today in California

As soon as today, the Newsom administration could unveil a key prong of its strategy for treating COVID as an endemic virus.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 14, 2022

The interior of SoFi Stadium is seen days before the Super Bowl NFL football game Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Inglewood. The Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to play the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 13. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

WhatMatters

COVID politics ensnare California Super Bowl

Republican legislators tried to force a vote on ending the COVID state of emergency and cited the Super Bowl.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 11, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom gives a speech following his projected victory in the recall election at the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento on Sept. 14, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

WhatMatters

Newsom gives sneak peek of new COVID plan

California's long-awaited endemic strategy for dealing with COVID-19 could be unveiled as soon as Monday by Gov. Newsom.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 10, 2022

Luna Walker bags chocolate croissants for patrons at Nabolom Bakery in Berkeley on Jan. 19, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Economy

New COVID sick leave leaves out at least 1 in 4 California workers

A new law will give most California workers up to 80 hours of COVID-related sick leave. But workers at small businesses, who make the lowest wages, won’t be covered under the new plan.

By

Grace Gedye

• February 8, 2022

Students wears masks while working inside a 4th grade class amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School in Lynwood on Jan. 12, 2022. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

WhatMatters

California to loosen some mandates — and rethink school mask rules

California appears to be on the brink of one of its most dramatic shifts in COVID policy: changing school mask mandates.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 8, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a new requirement for all school teachers and employees to show proof of vaccination or to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing at a press conference held at Carl B. Munck Elementary School in Oakland on Aug. 11, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

WhatMatters

California eyes endemic COVID strategy

California's statewide mask mandate is set to expire on Feb. 15, and state health officials may not extend it in an endemic COVID strategy.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 3, 2022

Adan Hernandez, a fruit vendor inside the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles, completes a transaction on Jan. 19, 2022. According to Hernandez, he has worked here since 1983. "Throughout all of my years here, I have not seen anything like this," Hernandez said. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Politics

Omicron slammed California’s workforce. Was there another way?

Tighter mask rules and increased vaccination rates could have made a difference, but omicron was going to be a problem no matter what. In response to worker shortages, the Newsom administration has made it easier for schools to hire subs, requested $8 million to address health care staffing issues and more.

By

Ben Christopher

and

Grace Gedye

• January 28, 2022

Police investigators stand at a command post near a crime scene in Inglewood on Jan. 23, 2022. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Justice

On the street: Omicron surge strains California police agencies

Since the surge began in December, some smaller law enforcement agencies have been forced to increase overtime, reduce services and reroute non-emergency calls to online portals.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• January 27, 2022

Covid-19