California coronavirus updates: Nearly half of free COVID-19 tests from the government are yet to be claimed

9:41 a.m.: Nearly half of free COVID-19 tests from the government are yet to be claimed

Almost half of the five hundred million free COVID-19 assessments that the Biden administration lately made out there to People nonetheless haven’t been claimed as virus instances plummet and folks really feel much less urgency to check.

The Related Press mentioned that info got here from administration officers who mentioned this system nonetheless represents a step towards a deeper and extra responsive testing program that can accommodate demand surges and stay on standby when instances wane.

On the primary day of the White Home take a look at giveaway in January, the federal government web site, covidtests.gov, obtained 45 million orders.

Now officers say fewer than 100,00 orders a day are coming in for the packages of 4 free fast assessments per family.

9:30 a.m.: Globally new COVID-19 cases fall for the third week

The variety of new coronavirus instances worldwide fell 21% within the final week, marking the third consecutive week COVID-19 instances have dropped, according to the Associated Press’ reporting on the World Well being Group.

Within the U.N. well being company’s weekly pandemic report, the WHO mentioned Tuesday there have been greater than 12 million new coronavirus infections within the final week.

The variety of new deaths fell 8% to about 67,000 worldwide, the primary time that deaths have fallen since early January, nonetheless, the Western Pacific was the one area that noticed a rise in COVID-19 instances with a 29% soar.

The very best variety of new COVID-19 instances have been seen in Russia, Germany, Brazil, the U.S. and South Korea.

WHO mentioned omicron stays the overwhelmingly dominant variant worldwide.

8:54 a.m.: In some counties, healthy US adults can relax mask usage, CDC says

U.S. officers say most People reside in locations the place wholesome individuals can safely take a break from carrying masks, in line with the Related Press.

On Friday, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention outlined a brand new set of measures for communities the place COVID-19 is easing its grip by focusing much less on constructive take a look at outcomes and extra on what’s taking place at hospitals.

Greater than 70% of the nation’s inhabitants lives in counties the place the virus poses a low or medium risk to hospitals in line with the brand new tips.

When you’re in Sacramento County, the hospitalization level is currently at “medium,” according to the CDC’s data. Take a look at what degree your county is at here.

Those that reside in low to medium risk counties and are wholesome can loosen up mask-wearing indoors, for now.

Nonetheless, the company remains to be advising that folks, together with schoolchildren, proceed to put on masks the place the chance of COVID-19 is excessive. The brand new suggestions additionally don’t change the requirement to put on masks on public transportation.

11:34 a.m.: Do you need a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose? It depends on your age, health and more.

At this level within the pandemic, it’s clear that COVID-19 vaccines plus boosters alone aren’t going to fully cease the coronavirus, or present long-term sufficient safety from infections.

Proper after the third shot — the booster — antibodies stand up shortly, however then a couple of month later, they start to say no. Safety in opposition to an infection then drops right down to about 50% three months later.

So the query is, ought to individuals get a fourth dose to beef up safety once more?

As reported by NPR, a preliminary research from Israel means that for the overall inhabitants, the reply is probably going no.

A fourth shot of the identical vaccine — on this case, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna — supplied little or no additional safety in opposition to an infection in contrast with solely three pictures.

However that’s to not say that an extra dose is pointless for everybody. Those that are older or greater in danger, an additional dose could also be wanted to assist them preserve safety in opposition to extreme illness.

11:21 a.m.: Los Angeles County to drop indoor masking mandate

Los Angeles County will start permitting individuals to take away their masks whereas indoors if they’re vaccinated, as reported by the Related Press.

California’s most populous county mentioned it’ll loosen up its public well being order on Friday to permit unmasking at eating places, bars and different companies for individuals who present proof of vaccination.

Unvaccinated prospects should proceed to put on masks indoors. The transfer comes because the county’s COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations drop.

LA County lagged behind the state as an entire, which lifted its indoor masks mandate for vaccinated individuals final week.

Most of California’s 58 counties shortly adopted go well with. Nonetheless, Santa Clara County nonetheless requires common indoor masking.

10:56 a.m.: Here’s what we know about ‘stealth omicron’

The most recent COVID-19 mutation, extensively referred to as “stealth omicron,” is inflicting greater than a 3rd of recent omicron instances worldwide, however scientists nonetheless do not know the way it might have an effect on the way forward for the pandemic.

Based on the Related Press, new analysis is slowly revealing clues in regards to the pressure, a descendant of omicron formally labeled as BA.2.

Early analysis suggests it spreads sooner than the unique omicron and, in uncommon instances, can sicken individuals, even when they’ve already had an omicron an infection.

There’s combined analysis on whether or not it causes extra extreme illness, however vaccines seem simply as efficient in opposition to it.

9:53 a.m.: New CA bill would require COVID-19 testing plans for students, staff

A brand new invoice would require California faculty districts to create COVID-19 testing plans for college kids and workers in case of future outbreaks.

Democratic state Sen. Richard Pan authored the laws. He mentioned the state would offer assessments or cash to pay for them. However the invoice doesn’t really require districts to comply with by way of on the testing.

Pan mentioned enforcement would come from inside the neighborhood, from “the scholars, the dad and mom, the workers and the individuals who reside within the faculty district, as a result of they don’t wish to see kids getting contaminated they usually’d wish to know what’s happening of their faculties.”

Take a look at distribution has already confirmed to be a problem. In December, the state promised tens of millions of assessments for faculties because the omicron variant started spreading.

Nonetheless, many college students didn’t obtain their take a look at kits till after coming back from winter break.

9:46 a.m.: The omicron variant alone isn’t leading us to herd immunity

Consultants say it’s not going that the extremely transmissible omicron variant — or some other variant — will lead us nearer to herd immunity in opposition to COVID-19.

Herd immunity is when sufficient of a inhabitants turns into proof against a selected an infection that it’s arduous for the germ to unfold even to those that aren’t protected by vaccination or a previous an infection, in line with the Related Press.

Early hopes of immunity in opposition to the coronavirus pale for a number of causes, together with new variants, waning immunity and vaccine hesitancy. Many scientists imagine COVID-19 will ultimately turn out to be just like the flu, inflicting seasonal outbreaks however not enormous surges.

9:22 a.m.: COVID-19 vaccines unlikely to trigger rare inflammatory condition in children, research shows

A brand new evaluation mentioned that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to set off a uncommon inflammatory situation linked to coronavirus an infection in children, which, according to the Associated Press, is known as “multisystem inflammatory syndrome.”

It entails fever, plus signs affecting at the very least two organs, typically together with abdomen ache, pores and skin rash or bloodshot eyes.

Remoted instances in individuals with no detectable proof of coronavirus an infection prompted a more in-depth look by researchers on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and elsewhere.

They are saying vaccine surveillance knowledge exhibits likelihood is underneath 1 in 1 million for the situation to happen after vaccination however not an infection.

6:41 p.m.: Sacramento city schools will extend vaccine deadline, drop outdoor mask requirement for students

The Sacramento Metropolis Unified Faculty District will once more have to increase the deadline for its pupil vaccine mandate, which is lower than every week away. 

The district despatched out an e mail over the vacation weekend saying it did not have the assets to satisfy the Feb. 28, so lessons will proceed to be in-person solely. If the unique deadline had been enforced, simply over 3,000 college students who have not reported their vaccine standing would have moved to an at-home digital studying program. The unique deadline to show of their standing was Jan. 31.

District academics and workers are nonetheless required to indicate proof of vaccination, request an exemption, or comply with weekly testing by Feb. 28 or be positioned on unpaid go away.

The district additionally introduced it intends to raise its out of doors masks requirement and resume discipline journeys efficient Wednesday because the COVID case price has fallen to 22 per 100,000 individuals in Sacramento County.  Extracurricular actions — each throughout and after faculty hours — will now be allowed, as will faculty excursions, group orientations, and non-essential tournaments and competitions.

Face masks could now be eliminated throughout PE, recess and lunch, assuming correct distancing will be maintained. The district says masks ought to nonetheless be worn when lining up to enter or out of a constructing or classroom and in between durations when passing within the hallway.

9:32 a.m.: With the Beijing Winter Olympics over, athletes faced one more challenge — getting through the airport safely

Leaving the Winter Olympics brings one full circle with a remaining early morning go to to an eerily empty Beijing airport, in line with the Related Press.

Like a scene from a pandemic-themed film, masked vacationers are greeted by a military of staff in full hazmat fits —white with blue stripes — with face shields or masks and goggles, a remaining nondescript interplay after weeks contained in the closed-loop that saved Video games individuals separate from the overall inhabitants.

Whether or not checking in guests for his or her flights or carrying an athlete’s skis, these hermetically sealed staff facelessly run the airport. AP photographers on their means house from the Olympics captured them on the job.

A employee addressing his crew lined up like sentries added drawings of the favored Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen to the again of a go well with. One other crew will get a push on a cart, bobsled team-like.

Regardless of the duty, it’s being done in full protective gear, a final defend from the coronavirus in a zero-COVID coverage nation.

9:19 a.m.: Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID-19

Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has examined constructive for COVID-19 and is experiencing delicate, cold-like signs, as reported by the Related Press.

The palace mentioned Sunday the 95-year-old British monarch, who has obtained three vaccine pictures, will proceed with mild duties and comply with all medical tips.

An infectious illness professional mentioned the queen would probably be given considered one of a number of antiviral medication to deal with COVID-19. Each her eldest son Prince Charles and her daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, additionally lately contracted COVID-19.

As Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the queen reached the milestone of 70 years on the throne on Feb. 6.

11:28 a.m.: 73% of Americans are now immune to the omicron variant

This winter’s omicron wave within the U.S. additionally bolstered our defenses, probably leaving sufficient safety in opposition to the coronavirus that future spikes could not trigger as a lot disruption to society, in line with the Related Press.

Tens of millions of particular person People’ immune methods now acknowledge the virus and are printed to combat it off in the event that they encounter omicron and even one other variant.

One influential mannequin appears at vaccinations, current infections, and different elements to estimate that 73% of People are, for now, proof against omicron, and that might rise to 80% by mid-March.

Nonetheless, whereas the inhabitants is best protected, tens of tens of millions of people usually are not as a result of they’re unvaccinated or have by no means been contaminated.

11:14 a.m.: Unvaccinated medical workers in some states are claiming religious exemptions

Because the remaining vaccine mandates for medical staff are set to be carried out this week in 25 most conservative states, it’s as soon as once more changing into clear how widespread using non secular exemptions is within the U.S. as a workaround to complying with such necessities.

At one rural hospital close to Yellowstone Nationwide Park, about 200 of the 620 staffers have requested non secular exemptions, most of which have been granted, as reported by the Related Press.

States comparable to Montana and West Virginia have both inspired residents to get exemptions or arrange methods to assist them.

Folks throughout the nation which can be in search of non secular exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccines have usually been doing it in defiance of high-ranking clergy members, together with the baptist pastor of a Texas megachurch, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Pope.

12:15 p.m.: US Surgeon General’s family contracts COVID-19

Surgeon Normal Vivek Murthy mentioned he and his younger household have COVID-19 regardless of their greatest efforts to keep away from an infection by getting vaccinated and taking different precautions.

Based on the Related Press, Murthy wrote on Twitter, “while you’ve been as protected as you may, getting COVID-19 will be irritating and disappointing … our security measures cut back threat, however they will’t eradicate threat. Nothing can.”

As new instances and hospitalizations slowly drop, the Murthy household’s bout with COVID calls consideration to the lingering dangers of a virus that many individuals have began assuming is lastly on the way in which out.

9:45 a.m.: Grand jury requests audit into Sacramento County’s use of COVID-19 relief funds for sheriff’s department salaries

The Sacramento County Grand Jury is requesting an audit into how the Board of Supervisors allotted COVID-19 reduction assist. A report decided the sheriff’s division obtained $104 million of the county’s $181 million in CARES Act funds.

The grand jury mentioned the CARES Act funds can go to assist public security, however that the county’s allocation was inconsistent with the intent that the cash be used towards neighborhood challenges brought on by the pandemic.

As an alternative, the grand jury mentioned the cash was used to fund salaries and benefits of the sheriff’s department. It mentioned the county supplied minimal assist to its well being division and different companies to deal with neighborhood wants throughout the pandemic.

The grand jury additionally discovered what it referred to as a notable disconnect between the sheriff division’s receipt of a majority of the CARES Act funds for public security functions, and Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones’ refusal to enforce the state’s stay-at-home and masking orders.

Each the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Sheriff Jones are required to submit formal responses to the grand jury’s findings. 

8:23 a.m.: Mendocino County still recovering from omicron wave

​​Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his “SMARTER” plan yesterday to put out California’s future by way of residing with COVID-19. 

The plan entails making certain individuals are vaccinated, the state is supplied to deal with future surges with assessments, masks, ventilators and coverings and that public well being officers stay conscious of the place the virus is spreading.

Anne Molgaard, Mendocino County’s director of public well being, mentioned she agrees with numerous what’s within the plan however that there are just a few issues Sacramento cannot remedy.

“As an example we max out on our ICU beds and we’ve got to ship any person to Sonoma County. If there’s two ambulances functioning they usually’re going someplace else, that makes it very, very tough,” she mentioned. “So we’ve got quite a lot of structural issues that we’re attempting to deal with.”

She mentioned that Mendocino County is simply starting to see their virus case numbers falling. 

7:10 a.m.: How do you know when to leave quarantine after infection?

Whereas case charges are dropping across the nation, round 15,000 individuals are nonetheless reporting a constructive COVID-19 take a look at day-after-day in California. For these individuals who get better and are in a position to return to day by day life, how can they know when it is protected to return out and never infect others?

Based on guidance from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, you may exit isolation 5 days after a constructive take a look at or the beginning of signs, as long as your signs are enhancing and you retain carrying a masks round others for an extra 5 days.

But as NPR reports, there are caveats, together with some current research that present many individuals are nonetheless contagious on day 5 or longer. They counsel specializing in issues like what signs you’ve got had, how lengthy it has been since examined constructive, and on what sort of take a look at. 

Learn more here. 

10:01 a.m.: Sacramento County reducing COVID-19 response as case rates fall

Sacramento County might be reducing the variety of neighborhood COVID-19 testing websites subsequent month because the instances pushed by the omicron variant proceed to drop.

Beginning March 1, the county will transfer from 13 testing websites to seven, public well being officers mentioned Wednesday. A full list of sites is available on the county’s website.

County Public Well being Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye mentioned the county is beginning to ramp down its COVID-19 response as case charges within the county drop from 240 per 100,000 residents in January to 38 this week.

“So that’s fairly a decline,” she mentioned. “And the indications that we’re seeing from the state is that projections is that these numbers will proceed to go down. We’re additionally seeing a decline in hospitalizations. And so we’re adjusting our response based mostly on the actions that we’re seeing.”

The county may also start to cut back a few of its contact tracing and knowledge reporting insurance policies. Beginning Feb. 28, the county will replace its COVID-19 dashboard weekly and have fewer workers members make reside contract tracing calls and rely extra on its automated system.

The announcement got here on the identical day the county lifted its indoor masks mandate for vaccinated residents. Unvaccinated individuals should nonetheless put on masks indoors, in addition to vaccinated individuals in high-risk areas comparable to public transit or care services.

Kasirye mentioned she would nonetheless personally put on a masks in public, though she is not requiring it.

“I’ve full confidence within the vaccine and I’m vaccinated and boosted, however I’ll nonetheless put on a masks, particularly when going into sure public locations, as a result of every layer of safety that we use will increase our confidence in having the ability to keep away from getting COVID,” she mentioned. “So I might be persevering with to make use of a masks.”

9:42 a.m.: Californians faced inequities in obtaining unemployment benefits during year one of the pandemic

A brand new research from the nonpartisan California Coverage Lab discovered massive variations in what number of unemployed staff in every state have been in a position to entry unemployment advantages within the first yr of the pandemic.

California was among the many states that did greatest, however report co-author Alex Bell mentioned there have been inconsistencies while you break the state right down to its 59 counties.

“We discovered inside California counties that had extra low-income residents, counties with extra residents of shade — these have been additionally counties that had decrease entry to advantages by quite a lot of measures,” Bell mentioned.

California had the fourth highest recipiency price within the nation. Minnesota had the very best price, adopted by Massachusetts and New York.

9:50 a.m.: With California dropping masking mandates, some local school districts make adjustments

Because the state dropped its masks mandate on Tuesday, a number of native faculty methods have additionally discovered themselves attempting to adapt their masking guidelines. Right here’s a breakdown of three districts:

Roseville Unified Faculty District

When college students at RUSD returned to their lecture rooms yesterday, they didn’t must deliver or put on their masks except they selected to.

The varsity board voted unanimously final week to make masks non-compulsory for college kids. It’s the primary district within the area to take action, and the choice got here after a number of hours of public remark.

Unmasked college students is not going to be required to be examined for the virus, however academics and workers are nonetheless required to masks up. 

In a press convention this previous Monday, California Well being and Human Companies Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly mentioned that whereas the state is enjoyable masking mandates, masks are still required to be worn indoors at schools for at least another two more weeks.

Woodland Joint Unified Faculty District

WJUSD’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to take away the district’s out of doors masking mandate for Okay-12 faculties throughout a current particular board assembly.

Efficient instantly, masks are not required open air within the district’s faculties, however college students and workers could proceed to put on them open air in the event that they select.

Additionally, right now, the board determined to proceed requiring indoor masking in any respect faculty websites and all indoor school-related actions. Interim Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin mentioned the district will proceed to watch state and native COVID-19 steering updates.

El Dorado Unified Faculty District

In a press launch, the varsity district mentioned they’re implementing a major change of their masking guidelines by educating college students about mask-wearing and asking them to proceed preserving them on, however will not exclude them from class if the scholars go maskless.

Based on their launch, the district has checked in with their legal responsibility carriers and have been warned that in the event that they “take express motion to defy state steering,” they are going to be held liable and accountable for any selections.

9:39 a.m.: California lawmakers introduce two bills to combat COVID-19 disinformation

California lawmakers wish to crack down on disinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines with two new payments.

If handed, the payments would goal mis- and disinformation on-line and on the physician’s workplace. The primary invoice would require that social media firms make their algorithms public since analysis has proven false info can unfold sooner than reality on-line.

Democratic State Senator Richard Pan mentioned secrecy across the interior workings of social media has been devastating throughout the pandemic.

“It shouldn’t be left to a handful of basically very wealthy tech executives to determine what occurs to our society and the way we reply to a pandemic,” Pan mentioned.

The invoice is bound to get severe pushback from monied tech firms and their rich buyers who mentioned the algorithms are protected by mental property.

With the second invoice, lawmakers launched a measure that will permit the California Medical Board to analyze and self-discipline medical doctors who unfold false details about COVID-19.

9:20 a.m.: While California dropped mask mandates, not every county has low infection rates

California’s indoor masks mandate for vaccinated individuals expired on Tuesday. Whereas general COVID-19 case charges are declining, that’s not precisely true all over the place.

Merced County continues to grapple with a excessive dying price and simply over half of residents who’re eligible are absolutely vaccinated.

County public well being director Dr. Rebecca Nanyonjo mentioned they’ve confronted intersecting challenges, together with lower-income residents, in addition to residents not getting vaccines early within the distribution course of.

“Once you’re on the heels of actually begging, and that’s not ample, what are individuals purported to do? It’s not only a Merced County-specific factor,” Nanyonjo mentioned. “That’s globally, that’s taking place nationally. When individuals really feel like they’re behind, they usually’re saved behind, don’t put them first when you will have extras.”

Based on the state’s monitoring numbers, Merced County’s COVID-19 take a look at positivity price of simply over 17% is sort of 3 times the state common.

9:46 a.m.: UNR faculty and students are asking school officials to reinstate the campus mask mandate

Tons of of scholars and college on the College of Nevada, Reno are urging state training officers to reinstate the masks mandate on campus, as reported by the Related Press.

The transfer comes a day after Gov. Steve Sisolak rescinded the statewide requirement that masks be worn in public locations to fight the unfold of COVID-19.

Greater than 900 individuals have signed a web based petition that graduate college students started circulating Friday as part of the plea for Nevada’s System of Increased Schooling to revive the mandate on campus.

KRNV-TV first reported Friday in regards to the petition. The president of the Nevada College Alliance mentioned repealing the mandate was a step backward.

9:38 a.m.: California schoolchildren, teachers, will have to continue wearing masks indoors

Gov. Gavin Newsom delayed a carefully watched resolution on lifting California’s faculty masks mandate Monday, at the same time as different Democratic governors across the nation have dropped them in current weeks.

Based on the Related Press, whereas many Californians will be capable of take away masks in most indoor settings beginning Tuesday, schoolchildren and academics might be exempt.

Newsom had flagged Monday because the day to look at for a revision relating to faculties, then despatched the state’s high well being official to ship the message of a delay.

Dr. Mark Ghaly instructed reporters, “At this time a change isn’t being made.” He additionally mentioned the state would reassess on Feb. 28 what to do with its masks coverage for faculties.

“That change is gonna be one which I believe might be met with numerous pleasure in some, and numerous worry in different circles,” Ghaly said during a Feb. 14 press conference.

Ghaly hinted at transferring towards a extra localized technique of masking necessities, permitting counties and faculty districts to find out their very own tips.

9:33 a.m.: In reversal from earlier decision, FDA pumps the brakes on COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5

U.S. regulators have put the brakes on their push to hurry up distribution of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to kids underneath 5.

As reported by the Associated Press, this current transfer means one other months-long delay for the pictures. The Meals and Drug Administration had urged Pfizer to use earlier than its research was even completed on whether or not the kids wanted two pictures or three.

The company cited the toll the omicron variant has taken on kids, however then the FDA reversed course and mentioned it wanted to see how effectively three pictures labored.

That info “made us notice that we would have liked to see the information from a 3rd dose from the continued trial in an effort to make a willpower,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks mentioned. “We take our accountability for reviewing these vaccines very severely as a result of we’re dad and mom as effectively.”

Pfizer mentioned in a press release that it anticipated that knowledge by early April.

9:06 a.m.: For workers at the Beijing Winter Olympics, life inside the bubble is a long sacrifice

As a result of athletes from international locations the place COVID-19 has raged are competing within the Winter Video games, China’s Olympic workforce is making a giant sacrifice, according to the Associated Press.

Tens of hundreds of Chinese language staff have been hermetically sealed contained in the ring-fence of virus prevention measures that China has erected across the video games, locked in with the athletes and Olympic guests.

However whereas Olympians jet in for simply weeks, Chinese language staff who cook dinner, clear, transport, take care of them and in any other case make the video games tick are spending a number of months sequestered contained in the sanitary bubble.

China’s ruling occasion doesn’t precisely permit staff to air their grievances, so there haven’t been any public complaints from them.

As soon as staff are dismissed from the video games, these contained in the bubble will must be quarantined in Beijing for every week or two earlier than going house. Many is not going to see their households for over two months.

10:20 a.m.: California GOP pushing to end California state of emergency

Subsequent month marks two years since California’s authentic COVID-19 stay-at-home order, and the state remains to be underneath a state of emergency. However Republican state lawmakers have been attempting to vary that.

They argue that since Los Angeles is internet hosting the Tremendous Bowl this weekend — and don’t count on masks guidelines to be enforced — that the state of emergency is not essential.

Republicans tried to power votes on a pair of resolutions that will terminate the statewide emergency.

“Now we have completed huge, incalculable hurt to our residents, particularly our children, with restrictions that proceed to this present day,” creator of 1 invoice, Meeting member Kevin Kiley mentioned. “It’s effectively previous time that we permit individuals to maneuver on with their lives, and we are able to do this at present.”

Contained in the Capitol, Kiley and his GOP colleagues donned masks emblazoned with the photograph of Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Lakers star Magic Johnson sans masks on the NFC championship recreation. They requested their colleagues to deliver the decision to finish the state of emergency up for a vote. Democrats declined.

In a press release, Newsom’s spokesperson referred to as the Republicans’ transfer “political theater.” His workplace additionally argued the emergency order from March 2020 has helped the state to shortly distribute masks and vaccines and enhance hospital capability.

9:23 a.m.: Sacramento County will drop mask mandate after Feb. 15

Sacramento County will be part of many others in not imposing a brand new masks mandate when the state’s mandate expires on Feb. 15.

County Public Well being Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye mentioned that whereas cautiously optimistic, she desires to ensure individuals know that COVID-19 remains to be right here and is a really severe illness.

She added that even with out a mandate in place, residents who nonetheless wish to put on a masks will be assured that it’s nonetheless an efficient option to defend themselves.

“Doing this doesn’t imply we’ve got much less confidence in the way in which masks work, however it’s simply the popularity that for those who are vaccinated, they will really make that alternative to enter sure public locations with out a masks,” Kasirye said on CapRadio’s Insight.

She mentioned that she hopes it received’t be essential to re-impose a masks mandate sooner or later, however public well being officers might be keeping track of figuring out elements like virus case counts and vaccination charges.

9:18 a.m.: Mask mandates are falling across the US

Because the omicron surge dips a bit, a number of U.S. states and cities have lifted masks mandates for faculties and indoor companies.

Based on the Related Press, the White Home says talks are underway about how and when to maneuver the nation out of the pandemic’s emergency part.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention nonetheless recommends masks in indoor settings, with stronger masks comparable to N95s or KN95s as the most effective choices.

State officers say the principle purpose for alleviating mandates is the downturn in hospitalizations and infections, even in locations with probably the most stringent guidelines.

Nonetheless, the WHO says the pandemic is not yet over, and that “COVID-19 isn’t completed with us.”

9:40 a.m.: 3 out of 4 higher education students in Nevada are already vaccinated against COVID-19

Percentages fluctuate dramatically amongst Nevada’s public faculties and universities, however general, three-quarters of the state’s greater training system’s college students have been vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 earlier than an emergency mandate even kicked in.

Based on the Related Press, a breakdown by campus supplied in a Feb. 1 memo to the state Division of Well being and Human Companies indicated that the odds for particular person campuses ranged from 45% at Western Nevada School in Carson Metropolis to 91% on the College of Nevada Las Vegas.

Different campus percentages included 87% on the College of Nevada, Reno, 65% at Nevada State School in Henderson and 58% on the School of Southern Nevada within the Las Vegas space.

9:22 a.m.: Hospital staff exhausted after omicron surge

Hospitalizations fueled by the extremely contagious omicron variant within the U.S. have begun falling after peaking at file ranges in some communities, as reported by the Associated Press.

Nonetheless, the surge has left in its wake postponed surgical procedures, exhausted workers members, and uncertainty over whether or not that is the final huge wave or whether or not one other one lies forward.

“We’ve been proved mistaken twice already, with delta and omicron,” mentioned Dr. Chris Beyrer, an epidemiologist on the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being. “In order that provides to individuals’s anxiousness and uncertainty and a way of like ‘When does this finish?’”

One more reason for anxiousness — COVID-19 hospitalizations aren’t even all that low. They’re at a degree seen in January 2021, amid final winter’s surge.

9:09 a.m. Vulnerable people are increasingly worried about COVID-19 as precautions ease across the US

As extra locations drop masks orders and different COVID-19 precautions, there’s a brand new urgency find methods to guard as much as 7 million People with severely weakened immune methods.

According to the Associated Press, vaccines don’t all the time work for people who find themselves immune-compromised due to most cancers, organ transplants, or different circumstances.

“The pandemic has not spared them but,” mentioned Dr. Ghady Haidar, an infectious illness specialist on the College of Pittsburgh Medical Heart.

There aren’t many choices for the immune-compromised as community-wide COVID-19 precautions wane. For now, well being authorities are pushing a fourth vaccine dose for these susceptible sufferers since they get at the very least some small measure of additional safety from repeated vaccinations.

At the moment, the immune-compromised are purported to get three up-front doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, adopted by a booster — which means they get another shot than most others within the U.S. would usually get.

There’s a tiny glimmer of hope, although. AstraZeneca has been engaged on a drug that guarantees to cut back the chance of COVID-19 an infection for six months. It’s completely different from the common COVID-19 vaccines in that it’s for individuals who can’t make their very own virus-fighting antibodies.

Nonetheless, it’s briefly provide and presently restricted to solely the highest-risk sufferers.

2:53 p.m.: Yolo County will drop mask mandate Feb. 16

Yolo County will align with the state and drop its masks mandate after Feb. 15.

Dr. Aimee Sisson, public well being officer for Yolo County, mentioned in a press launch that the county is lifting the order partially due to extra choices to fight the virus, comparable to “efficient vaccines, efficient remedies, and a variant that causes much less extreme illness.”

“I nonetheless suggest that everyone wears a masks indoors in Yolo County, however it’ll not be required in most settings for absolutely vaccinated individuals beginning February 16,” Sisson wrote.

On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced that California would not extend the state’s mask mandate, which requires all individuals to put on masks in indoor public areas, when it expires Feb. 15. Sacramento County introduced it anticipates following the state’s lead and dropping its mandate as effectively.

Masks will nonetheless be required indoors for unvaccinated individuals and for all individuals in greater threat areas like public transit or congregate residing services. 

9:13 a.m.: WHO leader says ‘COVID isn’t finished with us,’ amid a drop in cases globally

The pinnacle of the World Well being Group, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, lately introduced that “COVID isn’t completed with us.”

His assertion got here as he appealed for additional assist to combat the pandemic after his company reported case counts and deaths fell worldwide over the previous week.

Ghebreyesus led the launch of a brand new $23 billion marketing campaign to fund WHO’s efforts to steer a good rollout of COVID-19 assessments, remedies, and vaccines worldwide.

WHO’s weekly report confirmed that case counts fell 17% worldwide over the past week, whereas deaths globally declined 7%.

The figures embrace a 50% decline in new day by day infections within the U.S.

9:08 a.m.: Can you develop long COVID from an omicron infection? Scientists say it’s too early to know, but it’s likely.

Consultants say it’s too early to know whether or not individuals contaminated with the omicron variant will develop lengthy COVID. Many medical doctors imagine it’s doable to have long-term results from the omicron variant, as reported by the Related Press.

Lengthy COVID is often recognized many weeks after somebody will get sick with COVID-19. General, some estimates counsel greater than a 3rd of COVID-19 survivors will develop some signs of lengthy COVID, together with fatigue, mind fog, shortness of breath, insomnia, anxiousness, melancholy and extra.

Scientists are racing to determine what’s behind the mysterious situation and whether or not vaccines may very well be a part of the reply.

9 a.m.: Las Vegas Police Department drops vaccine requirements for new hires

The police division for metro Las Vegas has lifted its requirement that new hires be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, in line with the Related Press.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he nonetheless encourages Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division personnel to get vaccinated however lifted the requirement for brand spanking new hires a couple of week in the past on account of a dip in constructive instances on the division.

The division imposed the vaccination requirement final summer season, saying that candidates needed to present proof of vaccination earlier than being employed, nonetheless, the requirement didn’t apply to present workers.

9:59 a.m.: California is looking to lift mask mandate as omicron cases dip

California’s indoor masking requirement will finish subsequent week for vaccinated individuals, however masks will nonetheless be the rule for varsity kids.

As reported by the Related Press, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration introduced again the masking mandate in mid-December because the omicron variant gained momentum, and final month prolonged it by way of Feb. 15.

State well being officers mentioned on Monday that the mandate would finish that day. However native well being officers can proceed their very own necessities.

The state can be lifting a requirement that folks take a look at damaging earlier than visiting hospitals and nursing houses, efficient instantly.

Within the meantime, well being officers mentioned they’re persevering with to guage the masking requirement for varsity kids.

9:54 a.m.: Here’s what’s going on with President Biden’s health care worker vaccine mandate

A bunch of states is renewing a problem to President Joe Biden’s requirement that tens of millions of healthcare staff throughout the U.S. be vaccinated.

Based on the Related Press, the requirement for a lot of well being suppliers that take part in Medicare or Medicaid took impact in January for half the states and is scheduled to begin in February for the opposite half after it was allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court docket.

That ruling was a part of Biden’s try to drive up vaccination in private-sector workplaces. However the excessive courtroom blocked a unique Biden rule that will have required vaccines or common COVID-19 testing for workers of bigger firms.

Decrease courts have additionally blocked a vaccine requirement for workers of federal contractors.

9:16 a.m.: Pfizer asks FDA to authorize extra-lo doses of COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5

Pfizer is asking U.S. regulators to authorize extra-low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids underneath 5, in line with the Related Press.

The transfer might open the way in which for the very youngest People to begin receiving pictures by early March. At the moment, the nation’s 19 million kids underneath 5 are the one group not but eligible for vaccinations in opposition to the coronavirus.

Many dad and mom have been pushing an enlargement of pictures to toddlers and preschoolers, particularly because the omicron wave despatched file members of kids to the hospital.

If the Meals and Drug Administration agrees, Pfizer pictures containing simply one-tenth of the dose given to adults may very well be allotted to kids as younger as 6 months.

9:28 a.m.: SCUSD transportation workers want more COVID-19 protections on school buses

Transportation staff for Sacramento Metropolis Unified Faculties say the district is creating unsafe circumstances throughout the omicron surge for themselves and college students.

Bus drivers have been instructed by the district that after lessons restarted, there can be just one child per seat they usually’d all be three ft aside.

Nonetheless, drivers like Jennifer Sharp have mentioned that faculty buses are packed full.

“No children are protected collectively. Now we have no safety, completely no safety in any respect,” Sharp mentioned.

She’s been with the district for over 18 years and is without doubt one of the dozens of transportation staff who confirmed up on the district’s headquarters on Friday to protest unsafe working circumstances and low wages.

Veteran driver Gil Patterson desires individuals to know that circumstances on buses are hurting everybody concerned — drivers, college students and households.

“You’re risking your kids’s lives,” he mentioned. “You’re risking your individual lives.”

A district spokesperson mentioned all staff who take a look at constructive for COVID-19 are despatched house instantly, however drivers mentioned they’re requested to proceed working even when they take a look at constructive.

9:20 a.m.: US COVID-19 death toll surpasses 900,000, the highest in the world

Propelled partially by the extraordinarily contagious omicron variant, the U.S. dying toll from COVID-19 has hit 900,000 lower than two months after eclipsing 800,000, as reported by the Related Press.

The variety of deaths compiled by Johns Hopkins College is greater than the populations of Indianapolis, San Francisco or Charlotte, North Carolina.

The U.S.  death toll is the highest in the world, surpassing Brazil — the second-highest complete — by almost 300,000 deaths.

To public well being consultants, the milestone is made all of the extra tragic as a result of so lots of the current deaths have been preventable — simply 64% of the U.S. inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated.

President Joe Biden acknowledged that the pandemic has been “extremely tough to bear” and once more urged People to get vaccinations and booster pictures.

8:28 a.m.: Olympic Winter Games are being held in a tight ‘bubble’

Formally, the Beijing Olympics are happening inside what organizers are calling “the enclosed compound exercise space” — or somewhat a closed-loop system, or the “bubble.”

According to the Associated Press, bubbles at the moment are a part of the norm at many main sporting occasions.

The premise of this bubble is straightforward — maintain those that handed a number of assessments simply to get entry to the Olympics in, maintain the remainder of the world, and hopefully, COVID-19 out.

It’s labored for the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation, the Nationwide Hockey League, Main League Baseball, Grand Slam tennis occasions, school sports activities and the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.

On the Winter Video games, venues are open to members of the Olympic household, whereas the remainder of Beijing is mainly closed. The arrivals part of the often bustling Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport was a ghost city, sans for these in full protecting tools tasked with administering coronavirus assessments and directing guests to the correct bus.

Testing is a day by day requirement, and in some instances, it occurs a number of instances a day. Some members of the Olympic household have been instructed that if that they had lately visited one of many alpine snowboarding venues, they would wish a second PCR take a look at that day as an alternative of only one.

9:21 a.m.: COVID-19 still a top concern for Californians, poll finds

COVID-19 remains to be the primary subject on the minds of state residents, in line with a brand new survey performed by the Public Coverage Institute of California.

PPIC President and CEO Mark Baldessare says individuals are cautiously optimistic.

“Two-thirds say the worst is behind us, in order that’s fairly optimistic. However needless to say the final time we requested that query, which was final Might, there have been 86% who mentioned that the worst was behind us,” Baldessare mentioned. “So, , we’ve misplaced some floor throughout the course of omicron.”

Jobs, the economic system and inflation are the next three high objects of concern for Californians.

And though it doesn’t match the official definition, 53% of these surveyed say they imagine the state is in a recession due to their inflation-reduced shopping for energy.

9:04 a.m.: Winter Olympic Games open in China with the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop

It’s time to boost the curtain on the Beijing Winter Olympics, with the opening ceremony on the iconic Chook’s Nest stadium on Friday night time.

As a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, these might be a number of the hardest-to-navigate Video games in historical past, as reported by the Associated Press.

All the things is being held in a “closed-loop” system during which each participant should go a COVID-19 take a look at day-after-day. It’s considered one of a number of difficult points concerned in making Beijing the primary nation to host each a Summer season and Winter Video games.

Individuals might be positioned in isolation in the event that they take a look at constructive, which stunned some for the reason that stakes of the system haven’t been clearly spelled out to individuals.

In 2008, China invited the world to discover its nation with that yr’s Summer season Olympics Video games. Nonetheless, fourteen years later, it’s much less involved about what others assume.

Critics have assailed the host for a spread of points, from its poor human-rights points to its zero-tolerance COVID-19 coverage, to its therapy of star tennis participant Peng Shuai. Others say that the COVID-19 restrictions provide a handy justification for not letting journalists wander the nation to report on what’s actually happening.

8:56 a.m.: Tonga experiences first COVID-19 outbreak after post-volcano eruption aid shipments

For greater than two years, the isolation of the Pacific archipelago nation of Tonga helped maintain COVID-19 at bay.

Nonetheless, final month’s volcanic eruption and tsunami introduced outdoors deliveries of desperately wanted recent water and medication, together with the virus.

Based on the Related Press, Tonga is considered one of a number of Pacific island international locations to expertise their first outbreaks over the past month.

There are rising considerations that their precarious well being care methods may shortly turn out to be overburdened and that the isolation that had protected them could now make serving to them tough.

Regardless of strict precautions unloading ships and plans from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Britain and China, two Tongans dealing with assist shipments at a wharf have been the primary to check constructive.

9:34 a.m.: Yolo County health officer encourages ‘vaccine curious’ to get their COVID-19 shot

Public well being officers say they’re cautiously optimistic that the present surge of COVID-19 is on the wane — however the omicron variant unfold so shortly it affected nearly each side of day by day life.

This surge has been completely different from the one in 2021 due to the vaccines’ large availability and effectiveness, although not everyone seems to be getting them.

Yolo County Public Well being Officer Dr. Amy Sisson sat with CapRadio’s Perception host Vicki Gonzalez to debate why vaccination stays a problem.

“I wish to name them the ‘vaccine curious.’ I am attempting to maneuver away from the time period ‘vaccine-hesitant,'” Sisson mentioned. “However I believe all of us proceed to be annoyed that there are people who’re selecting to not reap the benefits of the great useful resource of a vaccine.”

Sisson says selecting to not get vaccinated has ripple results: from being hospitalized for COVID-19 to the restricted capability to take care of individuals with one other illness and a scarcity of healthcare staff.

9:14 a.m.: Do we need new coronavirus vaccines? Experts are testing different variants now.

Whereas COVID-19 vaccines are nonetheless saving an untold quantity of lives, omicron’s straightforward unfold has many questioning if they may want boosters each few months or perhaps a new sort of shot altogether, as reported by the Related Press.

The intention can be to save lots of lives and keep away from the disruption that even delicate infections can deliver.

Researchers are engaged on pictures that might goal multiple pressure directly and even cease the virus, regardless of the way it mutates. Vaccines squirted within the nostril are additionally being examined.

Nonetheless, many consultants say it is unrealistic to count on the vaccines to without end defend in opposition to any an infection, so long as they cease dying.

9 a.m.: US Army will begin terminating service members refusing to get mandatory COVID-19 vaccines

The Military mentioned it’ll instantly start discharging troopers who’ve refused to get their obligatory COVID-19 vaccines, placing greater than 3,300 service members prone to being fired.

Based on the Related Press, the Military’s announcement makes it the ultimate army service to structure its discharge coverage for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Power and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops for entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the pictures.

Thus far, the Military has not discharged any. Roughly 97% of all Military troopers have gotten at the very least one shot.

Greater than 3,000 service members have requested medical or non secular exemptions.

10:23 a.m.: What to know about the possible upcoming COVID-19 vaccine for kids younger than 5

COVID-19 vaccines for teenagers underneath 5 could also be out there within the U.S. as early as March, however there are nonetheless a number of hurdles nonetheless to clear, in line with the Related Press.

Pfizer requested the Meals and Drug Administration to authorize extra-low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 6 months by way of 4 years.

The FDA mentioned it’ll evaluation the applying and convene a panel of out of doors advisers in mid-February to debate the information. The company will use that recommendation in deciding whether or not the brand new doses are protected and efficient.

After that, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention will then collect its personal professional panel to assist determine if the pictures needs to be advisable for this age group.

9:54 a.m.: In just 10 weeks since discovery of the omicron variant, cases surpass all cases reported in 2020

The World Well being Group chief says 90 million coronavirus instances have been reported for the reason that omicron variant was first recognized 10 weeks in the past, amounting to greater than in all of 2020.

As reported by the Related Press, with so many international locations easing restrictive measures, WHO Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyeus cautioned that omicron shouldn’t be underestimated though it has been proven to deliver much less extreme sickness than earlier variants.

He cited “a really worrying improve in deaths in most areas of the world.”

9:43 a.m.: Shortened Olympic torch ceremony opens up Winter Olympics amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

A significantly shortened torch relay for the Beijing Olympics has began with 80-year-old former speedskater, Luo Zhihuan, carrying the flame.

Based on the Related Press, the relay size was clipped on account of considerations in regards to the coronavirus.

The torch might be carried by way of the three Olympic zones, with it beginning in downtown Beijing earlier than heading to Yanqing district and eventually to Zhangjiakou in neighboring Hebei Province.

The Beijing Video games have already been impacted on a scale just like that skilled by Tokyo throughout final yr’s Summer season Olympics. China says solely chosen spectators might be allowed to attend the occasions.

9:19 a.m.: Gov. Newsom criticized for not wearing mask in recent photo

Gov. Gavin Newsom is going through criticism for his resolution to shed his face masks.

The most recent scrutiny got here after Earvin “Magic” Johnson tweeted a photograph of himself with Newsom on the NFC championship recreation at SoFi Stadium — each with beaming, unmasked smiles.

Earlier this month, state well being officers prolonged the masks mandate by way of Feb. 15 as omicron instances surged. Stadium laws require individuals to put on masks, besides after they’re consuming or consuming.

Newsom instructed reporters in Los Angeles that he eliminated his masks solely briefly and was in any other case “very considered” in carrying it.

9:01 a.m.: White House still pulling out all stops to keep Biden safe from COVID-19 infection

You’ll be able to see it within the masks, the seating charts, and even  the distribution of water glasses on the White Home.

President Joe Biden’s workers is making extraordinary efforts to maintain him from getting COVID-19, though he’s been vaccinated 3 times over.

It’s no shock that uncommon steps are taken to guard the president, however the strict precautions threaten to undercut his administration’s personal efforts to persuade vaccinated and boosted People that they will face their lives by way of the omicron wave.

8:52 a.m.: US regulators asking Pfizer to apply for emergency authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine for young infants, children

U.S. regulators are urging drugmaker Pfizer to use for emergency authorization for a two-dose routine of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months to five years previous — in line with an individual conversant in the matter, who spoke to the Related Press on the situation of anonymity.

The Biden administration goals to clear the way in which for the vaccines as quickly as late February, with the applying anticipating to be submitted as quickly as Tuesday.

Early Pfizer knowledge has proven the vaccine is protected and produces an immune response. The formulation administered to youthful children is at one-tenth the power of the grownup shot.