public health

Kindergarteners wear masks while listening to their teacher amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School in Lynwood on Jan. 12, 2022. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

K-12 Education

Parents lose patience over school mask mandate

A top state health official provided little new information on Monday. Public health experts say it might be time to take more steps towards normalcy at schools.

By

Joe Hong

• February 15, 2022

A student wears a mask while waiting for class to start amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School on Jan. 12, 2022, in Lynwood. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

WhatMatters

Masks still required in California schools — for now

Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state's top health official, says the California schools COVID mask mandate will stay in place, but could change Feb. 28.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 15, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom gives a speech following his projected victory in the recall election at the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento on Sept. 14, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

WhatMatters

Newsom gives sneak peek of new COVID plan

California's long-awaited endemic strategy for dealing with COVID-19 could be unveiled as soon as Monday by Gov. Newsom.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 10, 2022

Students wears masks while working inside a 4th grade class amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School in Lynwood on Jan. 12, 2022. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

WhatMatters

California to loosen some mandates — and rethink school mask rules

California appears to be on the brink of one of its most dramatic shifts in COVID policy: changing school mask mandates.

By

Emily Hoeven

• February 8, 2022

Diane Ahern swabs herself for COVID-19 at a testing site at the Long Beach Airport in Long Beach on Jan. 11, 2022. “I need to get tested every three days to be able to visit my parents at their retirement home,” Ahern said. “I’m nervous.” Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Coronavirus

Free tests? As COVID surges, rapid results cost up to $300

Although state and federal rules require COVID tests to be free or covered by health insurance, people often have to pay hundreds of dollars upfront.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• January 14, 2022

Commentary

Rebate reform will lower medication costs for California patients

AB 933 would address the cost barriers to medication that can prevent people from getting the help they need.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 10, 2022

Commentary

Rebuild our decimated public health workforce and infrastructure

Lawmakers and the governor must look ahead and plan for a public health system that is not just adequate, but second to none.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 6, 2022

Commentary

What California can do to improve children’s mental health

Under California’s system for supporting children’s mental health, the state needs to first tackle the system’s deficiencies.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 5, 2022

Assistant General Manager Elisa Gallardo serves customers from inside a takeout window at The Beehive in the San Francisco Mission neighborhood on July 25, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

WhatMatters

Fearing a big COVID surge, California reinstates rules for private workplaces — and the vaccinated

Give to CalMatters today and your gift will be doubled! Your support helps keep our nonprofit journalism free and accessible to all Californians. Donate now. The more things change, the more things stay the same. A little more than a year after the first COVID-19 vaccines arrived in California, the state is bracing for yet […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• December 17, 2021

CalMatters en Español

Provoca escasez de dispositivos médicos críticos el problema de la cadena de suministros

EN RESUMEN Al observar los atascos de tráfico en alta mar en los puertos y los problemas de la cadena de suministro, los hospitales de California informan retrasos y escasez de suministros médicos. Algunos pacientes se ven obligados a reutilizar los tubos médicos. Read this article in English. Cuando Henry Genung tenía solo cuatro meses, los […]

By

Kristen Hwang

• November 22, 2021

Public Health