First known U.S. coronavirus death occurred on Feb. 6 in Santa Clara County
From ERIN ALLDAY and MATT KAWAHARA, Chronicle:: "A person who died at home in Santa Clara County on Feb. 6 was infected with the coronavirus at the time of death, a stunning discovery that makes that individual the first recorded COVID-19 fatality in the United States, according to autopsy results released by public health officials late Tuesday.
That death — three weeks before the first fatality was reported in the U.S., in Washington state on Feb. 28 — adds to increasing evidence that the virus was in the country far earlier than once thought.
Santa Clara County on Tuesday announced three previously unidentified deaths from the coronavirus: the Feb. 6 case; one on Feb. 17, which also predates the death that was earlier believed to be the first; and one on March 6. Initially, the first death in the county had been reported March 9."
READ MORE about first death: Autopsies reveal first confirmed U.S. coronavirus deaths occurred in Bay Area in February -- MATT HAMILTON, PAIGE ST. JOHN, RONG-GONG LIN II, LOS ANGELES TIMES; Coronavirus Death in California Came Weeks Before First Known U.S. Death -- THOMAS FULLER and MIKE BAKER, NY TIMES
More California cities ask Gavin Newsom to loosen his coronavirus stay-at-home order
From the SacBee's ANDREW SHEELER: "More California cities and counties are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to loosen the stay-at-home order he handed down last month so they can begin the process of reopening their communities for business.
But Newsom has warned that the state is not yet safe from the virus.
A number of indicators he’s following increased on Tuesday, including positive tests (7.4 percent), hospitalizations (3.3 percent), intensive care unit visits (3.8 percent) and deaths (5 percent)."
California sets guidelines on which patients are prioritized if hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus
From TARYN LUNA, LAT: "California has made progress in protecting the healthcare system from a dramatic spike of sick patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But state public health officials are still planning for a “worst-case scenario,” quietly publishing a sobering set of detailed guidelines to answer the troubling ethical question of who lives and who dies should California face a new surge in the coronavirus outbreak, resulting in a shortage of ventilators and medical supplies.
A 38-page document by the California Department of Public Health, published last weekend, prescribes a method to prioritize patients in the event that an outbreak overwhelms hospitals, preserving intensive care beds and ventilators for people with the greatest likelihood of surviving with treatment over those with serious chronic conditions that limit their life expectancy. If necessary, younger people and workers who are “vital to the acute care response” would receive care before others."
Gov. Newsom sets up program for volunteers willing to help people endangered by coronavirus
From the Chron's ALEXEI KOSEFF: " A new state initiative aims to connect Californians with local governments and nonprofits that have faced a shortage of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the launch of a website, Californians For All, where people can apply to serve on a “volunteer corps” that could be called on to do things like deliver meals to seniors, provide hygiene kits to the homeless and donate blood.
With residents under a statewide stay-at-home order for the past month, many nonprofits have struggled to provide their services, which are increasingly in demand. Newsom said California food banks have lost 70% of their volunteers since the outbreak of the virus."
Newsom’s unwieldy economic task force
CalMatters' DAN WALTERS: "Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared the obvious fact that “we are now in a pandemic-induced recession,” and appointed an 80-member “Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery” to guide our way back to prosperity.
“We want to make this actionable, we want to make this meaningful,” Newsom said. “This is not something where in six months I’m looking forward to giving you a draft or putting out a long, thick report. We want in real time to demonstrate meaningful reforms, meaningful changes.”
Don’t hold your breath."
READ MORE on task force: Steyer emerges as Newsom economic point person — and business groups are concerned -- CARLA MARINUCCI, Politico
Ballot measure would strip elected San Diego city attorney of civil work, legal advisory role
From the U-T's DAVID GARRICK : "The sometimes controversial position of San Diego city attorney would be split into two parts — criminal and civil — under a proposed November ballot measure the City Council approved Tuesday in a contentious 7-2 vote.
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The proposed ballot measure would allow the elected city attorney to retain the job of prosecuting misdemeanors, while the task of handling litigation and advising city officials on legal matters would shift to an appointed city attorney.
Supporters of removing civil matters from the elected city attorney say that’s a good move because elected city attorneys can allow political ambitions or ideology to taint the laws they write and the legal advice they give to the mayor and council."
Delayed census could greatly affect CA redistricting
JOHN HOWARD, Capitol Weekly: "Pushing back the census deadlines could have a profound political impact on California, ultimately forcing the state to draw scores of political districts for the 2022 elections within a tiny, two-week window.
The Trump administration wants a 120-day delay in developing and reporting the finished data. The plan, which requires congressional approval, was announced earlier by Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Door-to-door in-person canvassing already was suspended in March and will be halted until at least June 1 because of the coronavirus pandemic."
