Covid-19

Commentary

Stopping pay for workers sick with COVID is misguided

California’s workplace safety officials are considering keeping in place the requirement to keep positive COVID cases out of the workplace, but throwing out the requirement to pay workers who are excluded from the workplace when sick.

By Guest Commentary • August 17, 2022

Health

California monkeypox response is bumpy, but builds on some lessons from COVID

Monkeypox tests and vaccines are in short supply as public health officials grapple with red tape and short supplies. Yet some of the processes put in place in response to COVID-19 have helped.

By Kristen Hwang • August 10, 2022

WhatMatters

Monkeypox, COVID responses share central obstacle

Red tape, red tape, red tape. That was the refrain that popped up repeatedly on Tuesday, when California lawmakers convened for two separate hearings on the two viruses for which Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a public health state of emergency: COVID-19 and monkeypox. The key takeaway from the two hearings — which, ironically, took […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 10, 2022

Economy

California unemployment checks: New report says here’s why they’re so hard to get

The state agency that handles unemployment benefits pursued lowering costs and hindering fraud over making it easy for workers to access benefits, a new report found.

By Grace Gedye • August 8, 2022

WhatMatters

Are California programs having their intended effect?

With California lawmakers debating the fate of some 1,200-plus bills ahead of the end of the legislative session this month, let’s check in on some existing programs’ effectiveness. Today, an in-depth assessment of California’s unemployment insurance program is set to be released by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, which advises lawmakers on fiscal issues. As […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 8, 2022

WhatMatters

Buckle up for a busy month in Sacramento

Welcome to the final countdown. Today, state lawmakers will reconvene in Sacramento after a month-long summer recess — during which some traveled abroad on trips funded by special interest groups that lobby them on various issues — for the final, frenzied month of the legislative session. Legislators face an Aug. 31 deadline to determine the […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 1, 2022

WhatMatters

Will California declare monkeypox state of emergency?

As one of California’s public health emergencies appears to be subsiding, another is emerging. Los Angeles County public health officers, who had been poised to take the controversial step of reinstating a universal indoor mask mandate as soon as today, announced Thursday they would not proceed with that plan due to improving coronavirus infection numbers […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 29, 2022

California Divide

Some COVID orphans in California will get financial help

In California, 32,000 children under 18 have experienced the death of a parent or primary caregiver from COVID-19. The state has set aside $100 million for trust funds for children who are in low-income families to access when they turn 18 for school, housing or other expenses.

By Elizabeth Aguilera • July 22, 2022

WhatMatters

Amid new COVID surge, confusing mix of rules

Another month, another COVID surge. As the highly contagious omicron subvariant BA.5 spreads across California and the country — pushing the Golden State’s seven-day test positivity rate to 16.7% as of Thursday — all levels of government seem to be sending mixed messages about how we should respond. Case in point: U.S. Health and Human […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 19, 2022

California Divide

Study says California employers fail to keep food, farm workers safe from COVID

A new report uses Cal/OSHA data to show how California food production employers failed to keep workers safe from COVID-19.

By Levi Kalish • July 7, 2022