covid-19

A man walks past tents as Oakland Public Works Department employees remove debris from a homeless encampment at Mosswood Park in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. Photo by Jane Tyska, Bay Area News Group

WhatMatters

For homeless, can CA move faster than coronavirus?

Newsom looks for emergency housing to shelter homeless during coronavirus pandemic. California jobless claims soar. Pandemic upends medical, scientific research.

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 27, 2020

A dorm at Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center

Coronavirus

California is scrambling to house the homeless. Here’s how it’s playing out.

Shelters are reporting symptomatic residents. Officials worry about outbreaks in tent camps. State authorities are confronting questions of how to speed up help as much as possible.

By

Matt Levin

• March 26, 2020

Bowl’d general manager Ruben Hernandez processes take-out orders in the Oakland Korean BBQ restaurant’s empty dining room on March 16, 2020. Today Alameda and surrounding counties announced an order to shelter in place until April 7 in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Coronavirus

California’s shelter-in-place order, explained

Gov. Gavin Newsom directed Californians to shelter in place to slow the coronavirus spread. Watch as we explain what that means.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• March 25, 2020

A woman takes photos of the Alameda Theater marquee in Alameda, Calif., on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Seven Bay Area counties ordered shelter-in-place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group

WhatMatters

California likely closed through April

California likely closed through April because of coronavirus. State lags in COVID-19 testing. Cannabis dispensaries deemed "essential" businesses.

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 25, 2020

This 2013 image depicts Whalers Cove on Point Lobos State Reserve. On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that parking lots at many state parks and beaches would close down in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Photo by David Iliff via Creative Commons

WhatMatters

“Soft closure” of state parks

California needs 50,000 more hospital beds because of coronavirus. Newsom orders "soft closure" of state parking lots. PG&E pleads guilty to wildfire charges.

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 24, 2020

This Oct. 11, 2014 file photo shows St. Vincent Medical Center near downtown Los Angeles.

Coronavirus

Newsom, Trump: More beds, masks, equipment ahead for coronavirus

Gov. Newsom says more hospital beds, masks and equipment will be available soon to help California's response to the coronavirus.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• March 21, 2020

A restaurant employee in the doorway of a taqueria in Berkeley, California. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Coronavirus

Who is ‘essential’ now that Californians have to stay home?

Newsom's stay-at-home directive initially had fewer details than many local bans already in place. Bit by bit, details are trickling in.

By

Ben Christopher

• March 20, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom provides an update on the state's COVID-19 response over Facebook live.

Politics

Gov. Gavin Newsom just slow-walked California into a mass retreat from a virus. How?

By the time Newsom issued Thursday's mandatory order to shelter in place, it was clear that, for a week, this was where things had been inexorably heading.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• March 20, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom holds a press conference in the wake of the first COVID-19 death in California, a man who took a cruise from San Francisco to Mexico in February. The governor outlined measures being taken by the state to identify and test all other individuals who were on the same cruise ship as the deceased. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

WhatMatters

All Californians ordered to shelter in place

Newsom orders all Californians to shelter in place until further notice as coronavirus fears grow. Housing crisis complicates state's response to COVID-19.

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 20, 2020

A hand-sanitizing station at a homeless encampment near Oakland city hall. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Housing

COVID-19 and California’s housing crisis: 5 issues to watch

The pandemic collides with the state's homelessness and housing affordability woes.

By

Matt Levin

• March 19, 2020

Covid-19