SACRAMENTO, Calif. — ABC10 is following the latest coronavirus statistics and vaccine news for the Sacramento region and the state of California.
This blog will be updated throughout the day with the latest COVID-19 news. Click HERE to learn when and where yoan sign-up to get the coronavirus vaccine near you.
Lodi Education Association files unfair labor suit against school district for March 29 re-opening plan
Lodi Unified School District [LUSD] is accused of unfair labor practices for declaring March 29 as the first day for in-person instruction, although San Joaquin County remains in the most restrictive purple tier.
The Lodi Education Association [LEA] released a statement saying this goes against an agreement that schools continue distance learning if the county is in the purple tier.
LEA officials addressed concerns they have of the school district's date to bring back students to campus, such as that family not having enough time finding childcare and arranging transportation. They recommend physical learning begin on April 4 if the county is in the red tier.
Aimee Ramsower, the LEA bargaining chair, said in a statement they understand families want their children to return to the classrooms, but it has to be done safely.
"San Joaquin County has one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the state, and we want to make sure that our school community stays healthy," Ramsower said. "We are disappointed that LUSD is breaking our agreement."
Stanislaus County sees increase in vaccine supply following 'Healthy Places Index' creation
Governor Newsom announced a 40% increase in vaccine distribution last week in Stockton. It’s for 400 ZIP codes in the state’s so-called “Healthy Places Index” which identifies the most underserved communities in California.
The hope is to get eight-million in the index vaccinated.
So far, in Stanislaus County, they have nearly doubled their weekly allotment since the announcement. Normally, they receive about 5,500 at the start of each week. This week they are starting with 9,000 doses.
"So we definitely welcome the increase in the allocation and the number of doses that we have been receiving,” says Kamlesh Kaur, spokesperson for Stanislaus County Public Health Services.
In San Joaquin County, health care partners like Community Medical Centers, which has seven clinics in San Joaquin, have yet to see a vaccine increase. It has administered over 37-hundred vaccines since the start of the year.
It hopes to see the governor's promised 40% increase soon.
"This is what we do. We service the underserved. We are very much in the communities that the Healthy Index identifies,” says Preethi Raghu, Chief Operating Officer, Community Medical Centers.
California governor to say return to normal not good enough
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will say during his State of the State address that the pandemic will end soon. But when it does, Newsom will say that “we're not going back to normal" because “normal accepts inequity.”
That's according to excerpts from Newsom's speech that the governor's office released Tuesday.
The Democratic governor is scheduled to deliver the address at Dodger Stadium as he faces a likely recall election later this year, fueled by widespread anger over his handling of the pandemic.
The excerpts don't include major new announcements but highlight the work Newsom and the Democratic-controlled state Legislature have already done. That includes passing a $7.6 billion state stimulus package.
Counties complain of new vaccine delivery as economy reopens
More counties in California are reopening to business because of lower coronavirus case numbers. But angst remains over the governor’s plan to centralize the state’s vaccine delivery system.
Santa Clara officials are refusing to sign a contract that would give insurer Blue Shield control over COVID-19 vaccine distribution in California. Some counties are also pushing for Newsom to reconsider a plan to distribute more vaccine to vulnerable areas.
The pushback to Newsom's latest coronavirus plan comes as more of California reopens its economy and activities. Disney's CEO says Disneyland will likely reopen by late April after a yearlong closure.
State releases latest COVID-19 statistics
On Tuesday, the state of California announced a state total of 3,507,266 confirmed cases of COVID-19. California reported 171 new deaths from COVID, bringing the total to more than 54,395 since the start of the pandemic.
The state reported at least 10,628,752 vaccine doses had been administered to Californians.
Santa Clara County won't join Blue Shield vaccine plan
Santa Clara County will not participate in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to have Blue Shield control COVID-19 vaccine distribution in California.
The Mercury News reports that County Executive Jeff Smith said late Monday that Santa Clara County will not sign a contract with the health insurance company because it would not improve speed or efficiency. The state is in the process of switching over to a vaccine appointment and delivery system administered by Blue Shield, but skepticism has surfaced among the state’s 58 counties.
Just one county is aboard but Blue Shield says 41 health centers, 28 hospitals, four large medical groups, three pharmacies and three tribal clinics have signed on.
Resources guide for California families
- San Joaquin County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Yolo County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Stanislaus County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Sacramento County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Where to find help in Placer County: A resource guide for struggling individuals and families
- Northern California Help: A resource guide for struggling Families and individuals
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