Newsom resists pressure to ease California's coronavirus stay-at-home order
LA Times's PHIL WILLON: "Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday acknowledged that pressure from Californians and local governments is building to modify the statewide stay-at-home order carried out to stem to spread of the coronavirus, but he said restrictions will remain in place until the threat to public health subsides and adequate testing and other safeguards are implemented.
A bipartisan group of elected officials from San Luis Obispo County on Monday asked Newsom to grant them the “authority to implement a phased reopening of our local economy,” a request that comes just days after Ventura County officials modified a stay-at-home order to permit some businesses to reopen and some gatherings to take place.
Officials in San Luis Obispo County argued that their COVID-19 infection rate has been declining because residents have been diligent in adhering to stay-at-home orders and maintaining social distancing practices, but with businesses shut down and so many people out of work, the county faces a perilous financial outlook."
READ MORE related to Pandemic: Bay Area coronavirus hospital cases decline as California's slowly rise -- The Chronicle's JOAQUIN PALOMINO; LA County reports more than 1400 additional coronavirus cases amid huge test backlog -- LA Times's COLLEEN SHALBY/DAVID ZAHNISER/DAKOTA SMITH/ALEX WIGGLESWORTH; The Bay Area's battle against coronavirus -- The Chronicle's STAFF; This federal judge is risking his life to save homeless people from the coronavirus -- LA Times's BENJAMIN ORESKES/STAFF; Hundreds of thousands in LA County may have been infected with coronavirus, study finds -- LA Times's MELANIE MASON
Chaos, competition for vital coronavirus test could slow reopening of economy
LA Times's ANITA CHAMBRIA/EMILY BAUMGAERTNER/MELANIE MASON: "As debate intensifies about how and when the country can resume regular life, immunity testing widely seen as essential for that reopening is mired in the same competition and chaos that marred earlier diagnostic tests.
“It’s already a case of the continuing wild, Wild West,” said David Relman, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford who is on a White House advisory panel on testing. “The sequel is certainly live and in action.”
Dozens of companies have rushed tests onto the market that promise to tell users whether they have been exposed to the virus, and therefore may have some kind of immunity."
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Antibody tests reveal coronavirus spread, but not yet immunity
The Chronicle's ERIN ALLDAY/SARAH RAVANI: "From Bolinas to Berkeley, Santa Clara County to Los Angeles, and starting next week in San Francisco’s Mission District, thousands of people are being tested for antibodies that will help scientists determine how far the coronavirus has spread across California.
But as these tests become more widely used, and more easily accessible to the average consumer, it’s equally important to recognize what they can’t answer just yet: namely, who may be immune to the virus that has infected millions around the world.
Already, federal officials have warned that some companies are selling antibody tests to consumers that aren’t approved and provide inaccurate results. At this time, scientists say, it is impossible to know whether an individual is safe from the coronavirus based on an antibody test."
Workers' comp insurer to quiadruple payments to businesses, employees hit by coronavirus
Sac Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON: "Leaders of one of California’s largest workers’ compensation insurers, the State Compensation Insurance Fund, announced Monday that it will pay COVID-19 medical costs and income losses for employees at essential businesses that it covers, whether they contracted the illness at work or not.
The agency estimated that it will spend $215 million, more than four times what it announced last week, to expand this benefit and others to assist policyholders and their employees in overcoming challenges posed by COVID-19. Public health officials require infected people to quarantine themselves, meaning many will lose out on income from work.
“We are doing everything we can to provide our customers and injured workers with the support they need to make it through the COVID-19 crisis,” said State Fund Chief Executive Officer Vern Steiner. “We have worked hard to be in a position where we can help, and we’re proud to stand with the essential workers who are risking their lives every day to hold our communities together.”"
'Megadrought' in the West could become worst drought in history, scientists say
Sac Bee's MADDIE CAPRON: "The western United States and northern parts of Mexico could experience a record-breaking megadrought, according to the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
“A new study says the time has arrived: a megadrought as bad or worse than anything even from known prehistory is very likely in progress, and warming climate is playing a key role,” the Earth Institute said.
Scientists based the study on modern weather observations, 1,200 years of tree-ring data and many climate models, according to Earth Institute."
California regulators move closer to approving PG&E's exit from bankruptcy
The Chronicle's J.D. MORRIS: "California utility regulators could advance Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s high-stakes emergence from bankruptcy through two major proposals they unveiled Monday.
A tentative decision from a California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judge would approve PG&E’s plan to resolve its Chapter 11 case and pay victims of recent deadly wildfires that the company caused.
Also, one of the commissioners who governs the agency wants to not collect a proposed $200 million cash fine from PG&E over the 2017 and 2018 wildfires. The fine was included in a broader $2.14 billion proposed penalty against the company, most of which would come through making shareholders pay for wildfire expenses they could otherwise recover through rates."
California has a coronavirus stay-at-home order. So why did CHP permit a large protest?
Sac Bee's SAM STANTON/HANNAH WILEY: "Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an order banning large gatherings because of the coronavirus crisis, and Sacramento-area law enforcement officials warned last week that they will start citing people who violate the ban.
So why would state Capitol officials approve a Monday protest against stay-at-home orders that was advertised as attracting as many as 500 people?
It’s not entirely clear. The Capitol’s protest permit website shows the planned demonstration was permitted for noon on the west steps of the Capitol building, which is fenced off as part of a renovation project."
SF officials scramble to make voting in November's election pandemic-proof
The Chronicle's HEATHER KNIGHT: "Covid-19 has changed just about every aspect of our life — and voting in November’s election is likely to look different, too.
David Campos, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, on Tuesday will ask Mayor London Breed, the Board of Supervisors and elections chief John Arntz to remake the city’s election.
He wants no open polling places. No standing in line to vote. No hand-offs of ballots from a poll worker to you and back to another poll worker once you’re done deliberating. Instead, every vote would be cast via mail."
Sacramento Valley farms struggling as coronavirus closes restaurants, chokes supply chain
Sac Bee's BENJY EGEL: "Matt and Stephanie Weber’s microgreen farm, Sacramento Sprouting Co., was thriving. Revenue was growing steadily by about 5 percent per month, and leafy greens like frills mustard and mitsuba topped dishes at downtown Sacramento’s fine dining restaurants.
The farm, which is the couple’s sole source of income, now makes $200 worth of sales per week. Shutdowns and health concerns have sunk Sacramento Sprouting Co.’s revenue to just 10 percent of what it was before the coronavirus pandemic.
“Every day is, like, two weeks long. I check the news in the morning and at night and I still don’t have a clearer picture of what’s happening,” Matt Weber said. “At this point, I’m more worried about our personal lives than the business. How do we pay for rent or health insurance or car loans?”"
Shelter-in-place speeds up several Bay Area transportation projects
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN: "Nearly everyone in the Bay Area is sticking close to home during the coronavirus shelter in place, which has left the region’s roadways unusually empty and sped up typically congested commutes for the relatively few people still on the road.
Caltrans is also taking advantage of the empty lanes, accelerating everything from guardrail installation and pothole plugging to big projects that typically tie up traffic for weeks or months. BART, which is stopping its trains hours early each night, is also taking advantage of the shelter-in-place slowdown by speeding up work to revitalize the region’s rail system.
The goal for these agencies is to get construction work done before the Bay Area reopens and congestion starts to return."
Trump says he'll 'suspend immigration,' cites the 'Invisible Enemy'
AP: "President Donald Trump said Monday that he will sign an executive order “to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States” because of the coronavirus.
“In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” Trump tweeted.
He offered no details as to what immigration programs might be affected by the order. The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump's tweeted announcement."
Schumer: Deal reached on major parts of $500B coronavirus aid
AP's AMDREW TAYLOR/LISA MASCARO: "Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday agreement has been reached on “every major issue” of a nearly $500 billion coronavirus aid package for small businesses, as well as additional help for hospitals and COVID-19 virus testing.
Schumer said post-midnight talks among Democratic and Republican leaders, along with top Trump administration officials produced a breakthrough agreement on the package.
“We have a deal and I think we'll pass it today,” Schumer said Tuesday morning on CNN. He cautioned that staff are still “dotting the I's and crossing the T's.”"