covid-19

A hospital employee enters Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland on August 24, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Health

California COVID-19 workers’ comp claims soar

Health care workers make up nearly 40 percent of those seeking wage and medical benefits from the program.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• August 26, 2020

In Los Angeles County about 491,000 renters are at risk of eviction if Rule 1 is not replaced. Activists say this will exacerbate the county’s homelessness crisis and worsen the spread of COVID-19, which has already disproportionately impacted Latino and Black Angelenos. Image via iStock

California Divide

Elderly tenant on the verge of being displaced during the pandemic

Advocates for tenants rights have said the government has to step up and treat the pandemic as a health crisis.

By

Jacqueline Garcia

• August 25, 2020

WhatMatters

A pivotal week for California

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, August 25. Lots on the line This week will be decisive for California’s battles against crises ranging from wildfires to the pandemic to a looming eviction cliff. Here’s a look at what lies ahead. —Wildfires. More than 14,000 firefighters are fighting about 625 fires, including two of the three largest […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 25, 2020

Commentary

When it comes to COVID-19, don’t let the good news become the bad news

There is a way to break the endless cycle of easing of restrictions, increased COVID-19 cases, tightening of restrictions and decreased cases.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 25, 2020

Commentary

Steps California can take now to reimagine an equitable recovery

Radical new ways of funding infrastructure investment must be central to any agenda for an equitable economic recovery. Here’s what the state can do.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 24, 2020

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Dan Walters

California gambles with stopgap legislation

California politicians are gambling on high-risk stopgaps to relieve the impacts of COVID-19's recession.

By

Dan Walters

• August 23, 2020

Shawnee Whaley, 57, wears a mask as she rests on a cot at the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville after evacuating her home on August 18, 2020. Whaley said she and her mother, who lives across the street, had to leave in a matter of minutes, leaving almost everything behind. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Environment

A collision of crises: Central Valley suffers searing heat, smoke and virus hot spots

The dangerous trio has Californians unable to escape unhealthful air and reluctant to leave home.

By

Rachel Becker

• August 21, 2020

Adam Sciambi, right, and daughter Noa, 3, play with sidewalk chalk on Valencia Street in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco on July 25, 2020. Several blocks of the neighborhood are closed to vehicles every Thursday through Sunday to allow for outdoor dining and foot traffic. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Events

Pandemic, wildfires, scorching heat: How to help our children cope

In an online discussion hosted by CalMatters, three prominent child health experts offered suggestions for families struggling with the multiple crises confronting the state and nation.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• August 20, 2020

Commentary

Newsom’s leadership needed for special legislative session to focus on taxing the super wealthy and investing in an equitable recovery

Several revenue proposals are on the table for California to confront the crises created by systemic inequities compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 20, 2020

Workers harvest green kale at Ratto Bros. farm west of Modesto, on Friday, July 24, 2020. Photo by Andy Alfaro, Modesto Bee

California Divide

California farming country buckles under COVID-19. Will pandemic make or break the Valley?

Gov. Gavin Newsom described the Valley as his “biggest area of concern” recently and dispatched three of his coronavirus “strike teams” to the region to help local officials halt the spread.

By

Dale Kasler

,

Manuela Tobias

and

Tony Bizjak

• August 18, 2020

Covid-19