public health

Parents drop off their childern as Assistant Principal Janette Van Gelderen, left, welcomes students at Newhall Elementary in Santa Clarita on Feb. 25, 2021. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

Economy

California’s make-or-break reopening has arrived

As the state reshuffles vaccine distribution and reopening rules, lawmakers green-light a hard-fought plan to bring students back into schools. What does it all mean for economic recovery?

By

Lauren Hepler

,

Ricardo Cano

and

Ben Christopher

• March 4, 2021

People come to the St. John's Well Child And Family Center to get inoculated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in South Los Angeles on Feb. 09, 2021. Photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

Coronavirus

California upends how it’s divvying up scarce vaccines

How will vaccines get into the arms of people in low-income communities? And the 40% allotment also raises questions about whether other Californians will be pushed lower on the priority list — particularly people with high-risk health conditions

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

and

Ana B. Ibarra

• March 4, 2021

Leticia Aguilar poses for a portrait holding a picture of her grandmother Betty Ann Sigala in her home in Elk Grove. Photo by Salgu Wissmath, USA Today

California Divide

‘We’re born Indian and we die white’: California Indigenous fear COVID deaths undercounted

California Native American leaders fear the deaths that have shadowed their communities this past year have been undercounted.

By

Kate Cimini

• March 2, 2021

Larry Yabroff y su esposa Mary se saludan durante una visita a Chaparral House, un centro de enfermería especializada donde Mary es residente, en Berkeley el 25 de febrero de 2021. Debido a que ambos están vacunados, el centro les permite tener reuniones que no son socialmente distante. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las instalaciones de California no permiten visitas en persona. Foto de Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

CalMatters en Español

¿Cuándo volverán a abrir los hogares de ancianos a los visitantes? Los funcionarios estatales no dirán

Los casos de COVID-19 en los hogares de ancianos de California se han desplomado 98% desde diciembre. Pero los centros de atención a largo plazo dicen que están esperando la orientación del estado antes de reabrir a las visitas familiares. “El sacrificio que han hecho nuestros mayores ha sido muy, muy difícil y ha causado mucho daño. Ahora es el momento de dejar de sacrificarlos ”, dijo un médico.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• March 1, 2021

TK student Jake Schuman, 5, holds up a sign during a rally to reopen schools at Astro Park in Oakland on Feb. 28, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

Newsom, lawmakers unveil plan to push some schools to reopen by April 1

The decisions to reopen, however, still rest with school officials and labor unions. Newsom hopes the funding bill will prod them into holding in-person classes. Parent activists say it's not enough.

By

Ricardo Cano

,

Laurel Rosenhall

and

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• March 1, 2021

Larry Yabroff and his wife Mary greet each other during a visit at Chaparral House, the skilled nursing facility where Mary is a resident, in Berkeley on Feb. 25, 2021. The Yabroff’s have been married for more than 50 years but have been living separately since Larry had to place Mary in the care facility in February of last year. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Coronavirus

When will nursing homes reopen to visitors? State officials won’t say

COVID-19 cases at California’s nursing homes have plummeted 98% since December. But long-term care facilities say they are waiting for state guidance before reopening to family visits. “The sacrifice our seniors have made has been very, very difficult and caused a lot of harm. Now is the time to stop sacrificing them," one doctor said.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• March 1, 2021

El estudiante de kindergarten de transición Jake Schuman, de 5 años, sostiene un cartel durante una manifestación para reabrir escuelas en Astro Park en Oakland el 28 de febrero de 2021. Foto de Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

CalMatters en Español

Newsom y los legisladores revelan un plan para impulsar la reapertura de algunas escuelas antes del 1 de abril

Las decisiones de reabrir, sin embargo, aún recaen en los funcionarios escolares y los sindicatos. Newsom espera que el proyecto de ley de financiación los impulse a realizar clases en persona. Los padres activistas dicen que no es suficiente.

By

Ricardo Cano

,

Laurel Rosenhall

and

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• March 1, 2021

OptumServe is opening vaccine clinics across California despite several counties expressing dissatisfaction with a vaccination pilot program and COVID-19 testing sites. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

WhatMatters

Counties raise concerns as OptumServe gets bigger role in vaccination

Health care operations company OptumServe has quietly been assuming an ever-larger role in California’s pandemic response — including its vaccine rollout — despite numerous counties expressing dissatisfaction with its services. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced plans to open 11 OptumServe vaccination sites to serve “some of the hardest-hit or most at-risk communities” in the […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 26, 2021

Patients enter Levi’s Stadium to receive Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines on Feb. 9 2021 in Santa Clara. 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

WhatMatters

Delays emerge in Blue Shield vaccine rollout

This week, 10 counties in the inland portions of Central and Southern California were slated to transition to the new vaccine distribution system helmed by Blue Shield — but limited communication, technical challenges and lack of transparency have resulted in delays for at least three counties. Meanwhile, the state is overhauling its equity program after […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 25, 2021

Caitrin Wright and her son Cooper, 8, hold up signs during a demonstration protesting the continued closure of public schools across California on Dec. 5, 2020 at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. “My eyes are tired from looking at zoom,” said Cooper. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

WhatMatters

One puzzle piece remains for Newsom, lawmakers

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, February 23. School reopenings stubborn Every piece of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s high-priority pandemic proposals has fallen into place — except for reopening schools. Lawmakers on Monday sent a $7.6 billion relief package to Newsom’s desk, which includes $600 stimulus payments for 5.7 million low-income Californians, $2 billion in small-business relief […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 23, 2021

Public Health