public health

Commentary

A statewide health information exchange would strengthen public health

A comprehensive health information exchange is an essential infrastructure that would improve patient care across California.

By

Guest Commentary

• March 30, 2021

Palo Alto resident Margaret Park, 91, is accompanied by her son to the waiting area after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 9, 2021. The 49ers arena opened on Tuesday as a vaccine distribution site for Santa Clara County residents 65 and older and is expected to inoculate up to 15,000 people per day once supplies become available. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Vaccine appointments may be backed up for several weeks

The CEO of Blue Shield predicts it will take until the end of April to ease California’s backlog. “When you make millions of people eligible overnight, there's not millions of appointments immediately available,” he told CalMatters.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

and

Ana B. Ibarra

• March 26, 2021

Alameda County health workers prepare syringes with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a distribution clinic at St. Rose hospital in Hayward on Jan. 27, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Californians 50 and older eligible for vaccinations next week

In addition, everyone 16 and older will be eligible April 15. State officials expect a surge in COVID-19 vaccine supply.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• March 25, 2021

Commentary

New priorities needed for California’s next drought

As California faces another dry year, the state will have to decide whether to allow the violation of water quality standards in the Delta.

By

Guest Commentary

• March 25, 2021

Los trabajadores de salud del condado de Alameda preparan jeringas con la vacuna Moderna COVID-19 durante una clínica de distribución en el hospital St. Rose en Hayward el 27 de enero de 2021. Foto de Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

CalMatters en Español

Californianos de 50 años o más elegibles para vacunas la próxima semana

Además, todas las personas mayores de 16 años serán elegibles el 15 de abril. Los funcionarios estatales esperan un aumento en el suministro de la vacuna COVID-19.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• March 25, 2021

Patients and hospital staff wear masks outside of Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center on Feb. 12, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Hospitals in much of California begin reopening to visitors

With counties moving to less-restrictive tiers and the state loosening visitation restrictions, hospitals are gradually allowing more visitors for non-COVID-19 patients. Some are moving immediately on new state recommendations, while others are weighing the risks.

By

Rachel Becker

• March 24, 2021

WhatMatters

State halves desk-spacing rule — will more schools reopen full-time?

California just made it significantly easier for K-12 schools to bring students back to campus full-time — but some of the state’s largest districts and most powerful unions are pushing back, suggesting that hundreds of thousands of students may not receive daily in-person instruction this school year. Student desks should now be kept a minimum […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 22, 2021

WhatMatters

A day of historic votes

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, March 19. Three big decisions The results of three controversial votes on Thursday could reverberate across California’s political, environmental and educational landscape for decades to come. Here’s a closer look at what’s at stake: — Ethnic studies curriculum. After heated debate that spanned four years, four drafts and more than […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• March 19, 2021

Vehicles including Foster Farms trucks enter and exit the Foster Farms facility located at 1000 Davis Street in Livingston, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Photo by Andrew Kuhn, Merced Sun-Star

California Divide

Fresno health inspectors tipped off Foster Farms about state inspection amid outbreak

Emails reveal Fresno County public health officials tipped off Foster Farms executives during the county's largest-known COVID-19 workplace outbreak.

By

Manuela Tobias

• March 18, 2021

Los vehículos, incluidos los camiones de Foster Farms, entran y salen de las instalaciones de Foster Farms ubicadas en 1000 Davis Street en Livingston, el jueves 27 de agosto de 2020. Foto de Andrew Kuhn, Merced Sun-Star

CalMatters en Español

Los inspectores de salud de Fresno avisaron a Foster Farms sobre la inspección estatal en medio del brote

Los correos electrónicos revelan que los funcionarios de salud pública del condado de Fresno avisaron a los ejecutivos de Foster Farms durante el brote de COVID-19 en el lugar de trabajo más grande conocido del condado.

By

Manuela Tobias

and

CalMatters Staff

• March 18, 2021

Public Health