California Coronavirus Updates: Personal Income Jumped Over 21% in March As The Government Sent Out Relief Payments

COVID-19 By The Numbers

Sunday, May 2

10:40 a.m.: Personal income jumped over 21% in March as the government sent out relief payments 

Americans’ personal incomes jumped 21.1% in March, according to the Commerce Department. This is the biggest increase on record as the government sent out $1,400 relief payments as part of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue effort.

Personal spending also jumped by 4.2%, and wealthier Americans are also increasing spending. 

Read more here. 

2:14 p.m.: Number of Americans fully vaccinated tops 100 million

Disneyland has reopened in Anaheim, cruise lines are announcing sailing dates by midsummer, and more doors at venues are swinging open now that over 100 million Americans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to the Associated Press, visitors cheered and screamed with delight as the Disneyland gates swung open for the first time in 13 months. As per state guidelines, the self-proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth allows in-state residents and operates at just 25% capacity.

While the reopening and positive vaccination numbers in the U.S. seem hopeful, it stands in contrast to the worsening disaster in countries such as India and Brazil.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 39% of the U.S.’s adult population has been fully vaccinated. Over 55% of adults have gotten at least one dose, up from 30% a month ago.

However, there seems to be a small number of people who have not shown up for their second doses. About 8% of those who have gotten their first shot of either Pfizer or Moderna have not returned for their second shot. The nation's top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said it’s essential to complete the entire vaccine course to get maximum protection against the virus.

“Make sure you get that second dose,” he said at a White House briefing.

2:06 p.m.: Washoe County’s new plan will keep social distancing rules in place until June

Washoe County will be Nevada’s only county that won’t assume full local control of COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.

But despite the decision, the district health officer said many Reno-Sparks businesses would be allowed to operate at full capacity as early as next week under a pending revised plan. Businesses would need to have enough space to still comply with a 6-foot distance requirement.

Washoe County District Health Officer Kevin Dick expects the county commission to approve the revised plan by Monday with state approval to follow quickly. A state task force has approved plans for all other counties.

In Las Vegas, capacity limits will increase on Saturday to 80% and social distancing will be reduced to 3 feet.

The Transportation Security Administration has extended a requirement that requires passengers on trains, airplanes and buses to wear face masks.

According to the Associated Press, the rule was set to expire in May but will now run through Sept. 13. Children up to 2 years of age and people with certain disabilities will continue to be exempted from this rule.

Airlines and their unions had worked at pushing for an extension, saying that mandatory masks have helped keep passengers and airline workers safe during the pandemic.

9:18 a.m.: Dodger Stadium mass vaccination site to close by end of May

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium will close by the end of May.

According to the Associated Press, the mayor said in a Friday statement that winding down operations at the stadium marks the transition of the city’s vaccination efforts to appointment-free options as well as putting more doses into walk-up centers and mobile clinics.

Dodger Stadium became one of the nation’s most prominent sites for coronavirus response, first for testing and then vaccinations. More than 1 million people were tested at the stadium and the number of vaccine doses administered there has topped 420,000.

8:36 a.m.: Anxiety drove vaccine reactions in 5 states, experts say reaction not connected to Johnson & Johnson pause

U.S. health officials have concluded that it was anxiety — and not a problem with the coronavirus vaccine — that caused an apparent reaction in dozens of people earlier this month.

According to the Associated Press, experts say the clusters are an example of a phenomenon that’s been chronicled for decades with different vaccines.

Basically, some people get so emotionally agitated  by vaccine side effects that their anxiety spurs physical symptoms. Many of the 64 people affected either fainted or reported dizziness. Some got nauseous or vomited.

A few cases reported racing hearts or chest pain. None got seriously ill. The report said these cases happened in California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa and North Carolina.

All received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, leading to four of the five clinics to temporarily shut down as officials tried to sort out what was happening. At the time, health officials said they had no reason to suspect a problem with the vaccine itself.

Since the J&J vaccine requires just one dose, it may make it more appealing for people who are nervous about shots or side effects, and it might leave them “more highly predisposed to anxiety-related events,” the CDC report said.

3:15 p.m.: Californians are still struggling with pandemic-induced unemployment, and feel like students are falling behind

All of California is still struggling with unemployment because of the pandemic, according to new research from the Public Policy Institute of California.

“But the Sacramento region is doing better than the state overall due to the stability of state government employment, which is a bit of a surprise during this recession,” said Senior Research Fellow Sarah Bohn.

Bohn also said that the public health crisis has hit city and county government agencies in the rest of the state harder as they grapple with fiscal problems and displaced workers.

“Government work outside of Sacramento really took a huge hit during this pandemic so far,” Bohn said. “But Sacramento, with its high concentration of state government work, has fared much better.”

Other sectors that expanded in the Sacramento region over the past year include: construction, transportation and warehousing.

Unemployment doesn’t seem to be the only issue on the minds of Californians. The Public Policy Institute of California also asked residents what they think about the state of schooling and education through the pandemic.

Pollsters found that 86% of respondents think children are falling behind academically during the pandemic. Still, nearly 60% approve of how Gov. Gavin Newsom and local school district officials have handled the reopenings.

The Public Policy Institute of California is a nonpartisan think tank that conducted the poll.

“It’s definitely a little — it's surprising and maybe confusing,” Survey Analyst Rachel Lawler said. “I thought about it a little more, and I guess the two things aren’t mutually exclusive. You can think both that your child is falling behind … and that school closures are doing a good job in that they don’t have other choices.”

The poll also finds that six in 10 Californians are concerned that K-12 schools will not be open for full-time, in-person instruction this fall.

2:27 p.m.: US economic pandemic recovery is showing momentum

Powered by consumers and fueled by government aid, the U.S. economy is achieving a speedy recovery from the recession, according to the Associated Press.

Last year, the pandemic tore through the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and also cost tens of millions in jobs and businesses.

On Thursday, the government said the economy grew last quarter at a vigorous 6.4% annual rate, and expectations are that the current quarter will be even better.

The number of people seeking unemployment aid — a rough reflection of layoffs — last week reached its lowest point since the pandemic struck.

10:33 a.m.:  California education group releases recommendations for redesigning in-person learning

California education experts have teamed up with child advocates, teachers and school administrators to create a framework for redesigning in-person learning over the coming months. 

The framework, called “Reimagine and Rebuild: Restarting School with Equity at the Center” was announced Thursday through reimaginecaschools.org. It’s backed by 39 organizations, including the powerful California Teachers Association, and was developed in collaboration with Stanford’s Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE).

The authors say the new back-to-school environments should be designed to reverse systemic racism and the trauma of the pandemic.

“The pandemic has exposed long-standing systemic inequities in education with resulting gaps in opportunity and academic achievement,” the report reads. “The old ‘normal’ was underserving California’s most vulnerable children and youth,” it added. 

The coalition offered a number of recommendations, such as one-on-one educator meetings with families and designated time for student relationship building. Hands on, fun summer school and after school programs should be part of the planning, the report said, as well as lots of tutoring, mentoring and mental health support.

Sacramento City Unified School Superintendent Jorge Aguilar says the report is encouraging districts to design safe havens for kids, using new state and federal funding.

“To not replicate what things used to be like before. But rather to treat it as an opportunity for what we can do that brings students into a better space socially and emotionally,”  he said. 

Aguilar says that could include expanding student support centers with social workers. He says the Sacramento City Unified school board will begin discussing what these new student supports will look like in the coming weeks.

“We’re hopeful that we can pull off a summer program with these types of interventions much before the beginning of our academic school year,” he said. 

The report says teaching should be relevant to the times. Educators should talk about racial equity, and give students “choice and voice” in their learning.

10:26 a.m.: Is it safe to go to sporting events during the pandemic? Not just yet.

Experts are still cautioning against attending big sporting events during the pandemic but say there are ways to make it safer if you go, according to the Associated Press.

Outdoor stadiums are safer than indoor arenas. Venues that limit attendance and require masks are safer as well. Some teams are requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Activities like yelling, chanting, hugging and expressing loud enthusiasm are not safe at the moment, according to experts. Once at the stadium, experts also say to avoid indoor bars, restaurants and box seating.

When enough Americans are fully vaccinated as expected by June or July, there should be a significant decline in viral transmission, but the risk still won’t go down to zero.

10:02 a.m.: Free beer, pot and doughnuts. Health officials are getting creative to get shots in arms.

Free beer, pot, doughnuts, savings bonds, and even a chance to win an all-terrain vehicle are all some incentives places around the U.S. are offering to encourage vaccine-wary residents immunized.

According to the Associated Press, these small corporate promotion efforts have been accompanied by more serious and far-reaching efforts by officials in cities such as Detroit. Officials are going door-to-door and in some cases offering $50 to people who give others rides to vaccine sites.

Public health officials say all of these efforts are crucial to reach people who haven’t been vaccinated yet — whether they’re hesitant or have had trouble making an appointment and getting to a vaccination site.

Demand for vaccines has started to fall around the country, as expected. Public health officials anticipated this would happen once the most vulnerable and most eager to get vaccinated had the opportunity to do so.

In West Virginia, young adults that roll up their sleeves can get a $100 savings bond. Corporations are in on getting people vaccinated as well.

Krispy Kreme began offering a free doughnut a day to anyone showing proof of vaccination. Several marijuana dispensaries are also having out cannabis treats or free rolled joints. On April 20, marijuana advocates offered “joints for jabs” in New York City and Washington.

At some breweries across the country, patrons can order “shots and a chaser.”

And lastly, in Alaska, which generally has low vaccine confidence, a group of clinics has given away prizes for shots, including airline tickets, money towards the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle, and $500 for groceries or fuel.

3:24 p.m.: California has vaccines aplenty, but many still struggle to secure one

California is in a far different place than it was just weeks ago when simply scoring a vaccine appointment was cause for celebration.

Now with increased supply, it doesn’t mean that everyone who wants one in the most populous state can get one, according to the Associated Press.

A San Francisco Bay Area doctor says he’s pleading for doses to inoculate older patients who want to get a shot from his practice and can’t make appointments online.

Health experts say this next vaccination phase will likely take more time as the next group includes people who are unable to leave their homes or can’t miss work.

2:54 p.m.: US to share AstraZeneca vaccines with world after safety reviews

The White House says the U.S. will now start sharing its entire stock of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines with the world once it clears federal safety reviews, according to the Associated Press.

As many as 60 million doses are expected to be available for export in the coming months. The move greatly expands on the Biden administration's action last month to share about 4 million doses with Mexico and Canada.

While AstraZeneca vaccines are widely used worldwide, they have not yet been authorized in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration. The White House is also increasingly assured about the supply of the three vaccines being administered in the U.S.

2:32 p.m.: After a lonely Mother’s Day in 2020, vaccines offer hope of a connected Mother’s Day in 2021

This Mother’s Day will include some sweet reunions for many moms, grandmothers and their families.

As thousands receive vaccinations each day, families plan to reunite in person for the first time since the pandemic began, according to the Associated Press.

Last year, many were forced to hold off the physical joys of Mother’s Day. This time around, vaccinations have brought more comfort and security to bring on the hugs and kisses. Of course, not everyone will feel that joy.

There are those mourning mothers lost to COVID-19, others who cannot take time off as essential workers, some who may be avoiding flight travel, and those who continue to refrain from socializing until they, too, can become fully vaccinated.

11:05 a.m.: Las Vegas made a bet on tourism and won big

Las Vegas is bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels, with new reports showing increases in airport passengers, tourism and casinos statewide, reporting $1 billion in winnings last month.

According to the Associated Press, this is the first time winnings have been this high since February 2020. On Tuesday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said that the casino winnings even topped March 2019 figures.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority launched a new advertising campaign on Monday. By Tuesday, they reported it had tallied more than 2.2 million visitors in March.

McCarran International Airport said it handled nearly 2.6 million passengers last month, up from about 1.6 million in February.

10:39 a.m.: Predicted coronavirus-induced baby boom turns out to be a baby bust

When most of the U.S. went into lockdown over a year ago, some speculated that confining couples to their homes would lead to a lot of baby-making. But according to the Associated Press, quite the opposite happened.

According to some preliminary data from half the country, birth rates have fallen dramatically in many states during the coronavirus outbreak.

Births for all of 2020 were down 4.3% from 2019. More tellingly, births in December 2020 and January and February 2021 — nine months or more after the spring 2020 lockdowns — fell 8%.

10:31 a.m.: Americans already eschewing masks even before CDC’s greenlight to skip them outside

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its guidelines on mask-wearing outdoors, saying that fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear masks outdoors anymore unless they are in a large crowd.

According to the Associated Press, while the CDC has been advising Americans to wear masks outdoors if they are within 6 feet of one another for most of the past year, many states have already loosened these restrictions.

States like Nevada have already had rural areas loosen mask restrictions. While most people can go maskless outdoors, the CDC stresses that unvaccinated people should still wear masks at small outdoor gatherings that include other unvaccinated people. Unvaccinated people should also wear masks while dining at outdoor restaurants with friends from multiple households.

The CDC’s decision is based in part on research showing that less than 10% of documented instances of coronavirus transmission happen outdoors. And with more people getting vaccinated, the trend in case numbers is encouraging.

6:33 p.m.: Sacramento stays in red tier while Amador and Sutter improve

A few counties in Northern California have moved into less-restrictive tiers in the state's reopening system based on their COVID-19 positivity test rates. 

Amador, Glenn and Sutter Counties have moved from the second-most restrictive red tier to the orange tier. Mendocino County has moved from orange to yellow.

Sacramento County, with a case rate of 8.4 per 100,000, has been in the red tier since March 15. 

9:58 a.m.: California Legislature greenlights tax cut for small businesses due to COVID-19

The California Legislature has approved a significant tax break for small businesses, according to the Associated Press.

The bill would let some small businesses deduct expenses associated with federal coronavirus loans from their state tax bills. It would also reduce the state’s revenue by up to $6,8 billion over the next six years.

The changes only apply to businesses that are not publicly traded and had a loss of at least 25% during one quarter of 2020.

Assemblywoman Autumn Burke said that means between 15% and 25% of businesses that got the loans wouldn’t get the tax break. She said it would have cost more than $8 billion to give the tax break to everyone.

9:53 a.m.: CDC says Americans can go outside without masks

U.S. health officials say fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear masks outdoors anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers, according to the Associated Press.

Unvaccinated people can drop face coverings in some cases, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the updated guidance on Tuesday.

Previously, the CDC advised that people should wear masks outdoors if they are within 6 feet of each other. The change comes as more than half of U.S. adults have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, and more than a third have been fully vaccinated.

9:47 a.m.: President Biden looks to get US back to normal after his first 100 days in office

President Joe Biden spent his first 100 days in office encouraging Americans to mask up and stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Now his task for the next 100 days will be to lay out the path back to normal, according to the Associated Press. When Biden entered office, he moved swiftly to overcome vaccine supply issues and more than tripled the country’s ability to administer them.

But, ending the coronavirus pandemic will require more than putting shots into arms — and that task is becoming more difficult as demand sags. The president also needs a robust plan to help the nation emerge from a year of isolation, disruption and confusion.

3:07 p.m.: Pandemic impacts California public school enrollment

New data from the California Department of Education reveals what many expected: The pandemic has dramatically impacted school enrollment.

The state’s K - 12 public school enrollment has declined in the last academic school year by more than 160,000 children. Students left public and charter schools this past year at a much higher rate than in previous years, leaving just over 6 million public school students attending classes in California.

K - 8-grade kids represent the most significant drop in enrollment. State data shows how 88% of the statewide decline was in elementary schools.

It’s still unclear where many of these students went, though some numbers show many students have transferred to private schools.

1:45 p.m.: Nevada working to reverse vaccination compliance decline statewide

Nevada health officials are redoubling efforts to make it easier to get COVID-19 shots in an attempt to reverse a decline in vaccinations statewide, according to the Associated Press.

They include new drive-thru clinics in working-class neighborhoods in Las Vegas and expanded outreach to Reno’s Hispanic community. The 14-day rolling average in the number of vaccine doses administered daily in Nevada is down about 31% since April 15.

It’s the lowest average rate of daily vaccinations since early March and the first time it’s dropped below 18,000 since March 10. On Monday, health officials said that 30% of the statewide population 16 or older is now fully vaccinated.

1:38 p.m.: Despite job openings, hospitality industry is having a hard time filling them

Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in tourist destinations warn that hiring challenges during the coronavirus pandemic could force them to pare back operating hours or curtail services just as they’re eyeing a bounce-back summer.

According to the Associated press, they say the annual influx of overseas seasonal workers into the country has been severely delayed by rising COVID-19 cases globally.

American embassies and consulates remain closed or severely short-staffed, and the U.S. has imposed travel restrictions on various countries. Businesses have also struggled to attract U.S. workers, even as many have redoubled their efforts to hire locally amid high unemployment.

10:23 a.m.: California Department of Public Health gives green light to resume Johnson & Johnson vaccine

The California Department of Public Health will lift the temporary Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause.

“After a thorough review of very rare adverse events following the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Western States Scientist Safety Review Workgroup supports the recommendation of the FDA and CDC to lift the pause on the vaccine,” state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said. “Clinics in California may begin administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine immediately as long as they provide appropriate educational materials to inform patients of the vaccine’s low risk of associated health effects and other available vaccine options.”

Pan also said that more than half of Californians 16 and older have gotten one of the three available vaccines.

“The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also an important tool in our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19, especially as more aggressive variants of the virus spread throughout the country,” she said.

For residents who are interested in the rare side effects of the J&J vaccine, CDPH recommends they contact their healthcare provider.

9:38 a.m.: While COVID-19 treatments have drastically improved, many still hope for an easy pill

One year ago, no treatments had proved safe and effective for COVID-19, but that’s not the case today.

According to the Associated Press, drugs that supply virus-blocking antibodies are keeping newly infected people out of the hospital. Other medicines are helping the sickest patients survive.

Vaccines are starting to curb the pandemic, but with about 60,000 new cases each day in the U.S. and more worldwide, doctors say more and better treatments are needed.

At the top of their wish list is a pill or other easy-to-use treatment that can keep people with early symptoms from becoming seriously ill.

5:04 p.m.: Sacramento providers say return of Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help hard-to-reach groups

Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say providers can again administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. California health officials haven’t made an announcement yet. 

Use of the one-dose vaccine was temporarily paused after 15 people who received it developed a blood clotting disorder. Now the vaccine can be used, but in guidance to providers, officials are including a warning about the risk of very rare blood clots.

In Sacramento, providers say they were planning to use Johnson & Johnson to vaccinate people who might struggle to make it to two appointments, such as unhoused people and those with limited access to transportation. 

La Familia Counseling Center said they had to cancel an event this month where they’d planned to give out more than 1,000 doses to farmworkers. Loaves and Fishes temporarily halted a weekly vaccine clinic for unhoused people after the pause was announced.

Dr. Beatrice Tetteh, a pediatrician in South Sacramento who’s been involved in vaccination clinics in the Meadowview neighborhood, said the one-dose option is best for immunizing many people at once.

“It’s a challenge to do anything more than once,” she said. “The freedom to be able to say ‘after this one dose you’re done,’ it really helps make sure that you can vaccinate a large number of people in one big event and then you’re already finished.”

But she says she expects she’ll need to answer questions from patients who were voicing hesitation about the vaccine even before the pause.

“It’s going to be a big thing about trust," Tetteh said. I think in the beginning, many people were wary … because they said ‘I don’t know about this Johnson & Johson one, it’s too new.’”

Before the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was temporarily halted, it made up about 4% of California’s weekly allotment. State health officials still need to give an advisory on the vaccine.

Sacramento County says it had to cancel 800 appointments and direct those people to sign up for Pfizer or Moderna vaccine appointments at a later date.

10:11 a.m.: California goes from worst to least in COVID-19 infections

California has gone from worst to first in the rate of coronavirus infections in the United States, according to the Associated Press.

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows the state surpassed Hawaii on Thursday with the lowest average number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the past two weeks. Just a few months ago, California was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Los Angeles hospitals were drowning in patients and ambulances were idling outside with people struggling to breathe, waiting for beds to open.

The death count was staggering — so many that morgues filed and refrigerated trucks were brought in to handle the overflow.

At its peak, there were 40,000 cases and well over 500 deaths per day. The state is now averaging about 2,300 cases and 68 deaths a day.

Michigan now has the highest infection rate in the country. One in every 223 people tested positive in the past week, compared to one in every 2,416 in California.

10:07 a.m.: US health panel reviews Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause over rare blood clots

U.S. authorities are weighing whether to resume the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than a week after a pause was issued out of an abundance of caution.

According to the Associated Press, a government advisory panel is discussing a possible link between J&J’s shot and a handful of vaccine recipients who developed highly unusual blood clots. New guidance is expected later in the day.

European regulators earlier this week allowed the rollout of J&J after concluding the benefits of the single-dose vaccine outweigh what appears to be an exceedingly rare risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking to its advisors to help determine how significant any risk really is.

10:04 a.m.: With newly increased supply, N95 masks shouldn’t be reused

Medical providers may soon return to using one medical N95 mask per patient, a practice that was suspended during the pandemic due to alarming supply shortages.

According to the Associated Press, the Biden administration now says there is an adequate supply of N95 masks, so hospitals and health care facilities should transition away from rationing the safety equipment.

The National Nurses Union, the largest professional association of registered nurses in the country, calls the new guidance “a tiny step in the right direction” but “ultimately fails” to protect nurses because it allows employers to use their discretion about what normal N95 supply is.

Despite what could have been considered setbacks amid a statewide vaccine eligibility expansion, more than half of all Sacramento County residents are now at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19. Only people 16 years or older can receive the vaccine.

In recent weeks, federal health officials halted the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and two planned mass vaccination sites in South Sacramento — one of the hardest hit areas of the county — have seen slow progress.

But with some scrambling and a joint effort from the county and its partners, Rachel Allen, Sacramento’s immunization coordinator, said they made sure “everybody had what they needed.”

“So I think we’re OK,” Allen said. “It would be great to bring Johnson & Johnson back on the table and to move forward again, but I think we’re doing OK with what we’ve got.”

County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said that she expects to hear an update on Johnson & Johnson vaccine usage on Friday.

Meanwhile, Sacramento County is still struggling to get out of the red tier of the state’s reopening plan.

As of April 22, more than 87% of California is in the less-strict orange tier, but Sacramento County is still far from reaching that goal. 

Last month, Dr. Kasirye said Sacramento was on track to move out of the red tier by the end of April. But the COVID-19 case rate has remained stagnant and isn’t close to reaching the threshold needed to progress.

To make that move, Sacramento would need a case rate of 5.9 new cases per 100,000 residents. Currently, the county is sitting at 9.5 new cases per 100,000 residents.

“There’s a plateau and we’ve been in that plateau for quite a while,” Dr. Kasirye said. “As I’ve mentioned, it’s not due to any major outbreak, it’s just due to community spread.”

While there are no outbreaks of the virus Sacramento, Dr. Kasirye said the county is seeing an increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 variants.

10:42 a.m.: Fight over Reno reopening plan goes to state’s coronavirus task force

Health district and city officials in Reno are rejecting a coronavirus reopening plan that’s going before a state COVID-19 Task Force on Thursday.

According to the Associated Press, they say social distancing requirements should stay in place at least until June 1, instead of the May 1 deadline. The Reno Gazette Journal reports that last-minute protest letters on Wednesday pointed to a rise in local cases of the U.K. variant and the closure of a Catholic high school due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

The task force is expected to accept a Las Vegas-area plan that links the lifting of capacity and distancing restrictions with vaccination rates in the state’s critical tourism region.

10:39 a.m.: How long does COVID-19 protection from vaccines last? Maybe six months or likely longer.

Since COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been around that long, it’s not yet known exactly how long their protection lasts.

According to the Associated Press, experts are still studying vaccinated people to determine if and when boosters might be needed. So far, evidence indicates shots by Pfizer and Moderna last at least six months and likely longer.

Another reason we might need follow-up shots is if the vaccines lose their effectiveness against variants. Booster shots could contain vaccines for multiple mutations. While current COVID-19 vaccines will likely last for about a year, they probably won’t offer lifelong protection, like the measles shot.

So far, the vaccines appear protective against the notable variants that have emerged, though it is somewhat less protective on the variant first detected in South Africa.

The need for them will also depend on the success of the global vaccination push and tamping down transmission of the virus and emerging variants.

10:37 a.m.: COVID-19 hospitalization rates for older Americans plunges

COVID-19 hospitalizations are dropping among older Americans, according to the Associated Press.

The falling numbers show the country’s vaccination strategy is working, pushing deaths lower and easing pressure on the frayed hospital system. But, experts note the country will need to make similar progress among younger people who are now making up a more significant portion of new cases and hospitalizations.

Daily infections have held steady at about 60,000 for the last two months. As the demand for vaccines slows in seniors, health experts warn the U.S. will face an uphill climb in vaccinating younger people, who face fewer risks from COVID-19 but can still spread it widely.

6:29 p.m.: A strike of teachers aides and food service workers has been called off 

Parents of more than 40,000 students in the Sacramento City Unified School District may be relieved to hear that a strike of teachers aides and food service workers has been called off this week. 

Custodians, bus drivers and other workers affiliated with the labor union SEIU were planning to strike on Thursday and Friday. The teachers union, Sacramento City Teachers Association,  said it had been planning to strike in sympathy. 

But SEIU called off the strike on Tuesday because union demands had been met, including stipends and allowing their kids to come to work with them.

According to the district, the deal included a $1,000 prorated stipend for union members who have worked on-site since last year, and other stipends for professional development and additional work responsibilities related to the pandemic. 

Nancy Knowdell is a parent of two students in the school district who are going back to school in-person this month. 

“We had so many issues throughout this entire process,” said Knowdell, saying that she was disappointed and frustrated by the dispute. She says she understands there was a lot of money involved in the labor negotiations, but she felt workers should have received what they wanted to work “without a whole lot of discussion.”

She says she’s now relieved that “everybody came to the table and worked it out,” but she hopes labor agreements don’t get in the way of students returning next school year. 

“Please have this worked out well before the summer ends for the fall. Our kids have had enough confusion and have been short-changed enough,” she said. 

Middle and high school students in Sacramento City schools are returning to school in person on Thursday, April 22 — as planned — for the first time since last year. 

5:45 p.m.: Sleep Train Arena to hold drive-thru vaccination targeted at Latino community

The Sleep Train Arena parking lot will hold a drive-thru vaccination event targeting the Latino community in Sacramento this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Councilmember Eric Guerra’s office is hosting the event in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento, UC Davis Health, Elica Health Centers, the Latino Economic Council of Sacramento and La Familia Counseling Center.

“The data shows that Latinos are the most vulnerable to die from COVID-19, and we must be intentional about and proactive in getting vaccines in the arms of people that have been the most impacted,” Guerra said. “This is why our focus in language and culture should be expanded to reach more people.” 

UC Davis and Elica Health volunteers will be administering 500 vaccines on-site. Translators will be available to provide interpretation on vaccination questions. 

Vaccinations will be available by appointment only. Those who wish to be vaccinated may register here or by calling 916-329-3502.  

5:21 p.m.: Las Vegas plans to fully lift capacity and distancing restrictions beginning May 1

Lawmakers in Las Vegas are linking plans to fully lift capacity and distancing restrictions beginning May 1 with vaccination rates in the state’s key tourism region.

In Reno, business occupancy limits could soon be removed and distancing rules made voluntary. 

County lawmakers in the state’s most populous areas approved plans Tuesday for consideration by the state’s COVID-19 Response Task Force.

Coronavirus mitigation measures switch to local control on May 1. Gov. Steve Sisolak has set a June 1 date to lift almost all restrictions except statewide mask mandates. The task force meets Thursday.

5:17 p.m.: Promising data on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant people

One of the largest reports on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy bolsters evidence that it is safe, although more comprehensive research is needed.

The preliminary results are based on reports from over 35,000 U.S. women who received either Moderna or Pfizer shots while pregnant. Their rates of miscarriage, premature births and other complications were comparable to those observed in published reports on pregnant women before the pandemic.

The new evidence from researchers at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine wasn't available at the time of the study and wasn't included.

11:10 a.m.: Burning Man might require proof of vaccination for attendees

Burning Man organizers are considering requiring attendees to prove they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 if they move forward with plans to hold this year’s counter-culture festival in the Nevada desert.

But according to the Associated Press, they have backed off an earlier statement indicating they had already decided to make the shots mandatory. The organizers say they won’t decide for sure whether the event will even take place until the end of the month.

Burning Man CEO Marian Goodell had said in a video message posted on the group’s website on April 8 that the vaccines would be required. She said in an updated statement last weekend that she had misspoken.

10:59 a.m.: FDA inspection found issues at factory making Johnson & Johnson vaccines

U.S. regulators say the Baltimore factory contracted to make Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine was dirty, didn’t follow proper manufacturing procedures and had poorly trained staff, according to the Associated Press.

The problems resulted in the contamination of a batch of material that was going to be put into the shots. Nothing made at the factory for J&J has been distributed, the FDA noted. The nearly 8 million doses of J&J vaccine given in the U.S. came from Europe.

The Food and Drug Administration released a 13-page report detailing the findings from its recent inspection of the now-idle Emergent Biosciences factory.

Agency inspectors said the contaminated batch was used to make COVID-19 vaccines for another Emergent client, AstraZeneca. The batch, reportedly enough to make about 15 million J&J vaccine doses, had to be thrown out.

Other problems cited in the report were peeling paint, black and brown residue on floors and walls in the factory, inadequate cleaning and employees not following procedures to prevent contamination.

J&J and Emergent say they’re working to fix the reported problems.

10:53 a.m.: White House to offer tax incentive to encourage vaccinations

The White House is trying to overcome diminishing demand for COVID-19 shots by offering businesses a tax incentive to give employees paid leave to get vaccinated.

According to the Associated Press, the move comes as the U.S. is set to meet President Joe Biden’s goal of administering 200 million coronavirus vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office.

More than 50% of U.S. adults are at least partially vaccinated, and roughly 28 million vaccine doses are being delivered each week. Demand has eclipsed supply as the constraining factor to vaccinations in much of the country.

5:30 p.m.: Restaurants, delivery apps in an uneasy relationship as customers continue with delivery orders

Diners got used to delivery during the pandemic, and the habit may stick long after dining rooms reopen.

But, according to the Associated Press, restaurants and delivery companies remain uneasy partners, haggling over fees and struggling to make the service mutually profitable. Companies like DoorDash and UberEats may have helped many restaurants stay in business during lockdowns —  it also came with a heavy price.

The delivery app giants could charge commission fees of 30% or more per order, hurting restaurants’ already meager profits. Some restaurants fed up with the fees have since started their own delivery program or have dropped off the platforms altogether. Delivery companies are trying to keep them in the fold with lower-priced services and relief funds, but they’re not making much money either.

Small business owners have had to get creative. Chocolate maker Jeffrey Gardner says he believes he loses money on the one or two delivery orders he gets a day at Masatta Chocolate in Torrance, California, but he’s happy for the exposure. He’s even worked for DoorDash and UberEats to make extra cash and meet other local restaurant owners to hopefully stock his chocolates. 

But many restaurant owners say they can’t make the math work. The Restaurant Empowerment Project was founded late last year by Oakland-based entrepreneur Sheng Xie. The hope is to give independent restaurants the same negotiating power over delivery commissions like McDonald’s or Starbucks. About 700 restaurants have already signed on.

“Food delivery is here to stay,” they said. “But a lot of restaurants are very scared right now. They fear going back to normal, paying 30% or more and having no choice but to use these apps.”

5:25 p.m.: Nevada teen suffers seizures, brain clots after J&J vaccine

A spokesperson with the family of an 18-year-old woman in Nevada who suffered seizures after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine said the girl has received three brain surgeries related to blood clots. 

According to the Associated Press, spokesman Bret Johnson said Emma Burkey began feeling sick about a week after receiving the one-dose vaccine early this month.

She was one of six women in the U.S. who experienced a severe clotting effect. Her parents, Russ and Kathy, have visited her at the hospital daily and said she’s slowly improving.

10:42 a.m.: California lawmakers revive coronavirus tax breaks for businesses

California lawmakers have revived a multibillion-dollar tax break for some businesses, according to the Associated Press.

The federal government has given businesses in the state about $97 billion in loans during the pandemic, and most companies won’t have to pay that back. Congress already lets business owners deduct expenses associated with those coronavirus loans from their federal taxes.

On Monday, the state Senate voted to let business owners deduct those expenses from their state taxes. The bill has been delayed because lawmakers feared it would force the state to forfeit some of its own federal coronavirus aid. But the Biden administration assured state lawmakers it would not.

10:01 a.m.: Asian American families are weighing pros and cons of sending their children back into classrooms

Asian American families are wrestling with reasons on why they should or shouldn't be sending their children back to classrooms as all grade levels across the country are widely reopening.

According to the Associated Press, some Asian American parents say they're content to keep their children at home attending classes online amid rising anti-Asian harassment and rising COVID-19 cases.

Asian American students have the highest rates of remote learning nationally, with just 15% of fourth-graders attending classes in-person as of February when compared with more than half of white fourth-graders.

In the Sacramento City Unified School District, 33% of Asian American students chose in-person classes when students returned this month.

Elk Grove Unified School District has recently started a hybrid schooling model with some in-classroom days and some remote-class days. The hybrid model was a no-brainer for a local mother: her two elementary-school-aged children would be staying home.

"I'm hesitant because of all this rise in anti-Asian violence," parent Winnie Tam Hung said. "I experienced a lot of racial bullying as a kid; given this current climate, I'm very hesitant about being out in public with my children and sending my children back to school."

9:52 a.m.: Billions were spent on fighting the coronavirus, and 1 in 6 Americans lost their local health leader, so what's next?

Congress has poured tens of billions of dollars into public health since last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was declared, according to the Associated Press.

While health officials who have juggled bare-bone budgets for years are grateful for the money, many worry that it'll soon dry up, just as it did after previous crises like the Sept. 11 attacks and the SARS and Ebola outbreaks.

Some health officials are saying they need funds that they can "depend on year after year." Amid political pressure, exhaustion and more, 1 in 6 Americans lost their local health department leader. Sacramento County's former top health official resigned in Dec. 2020.

A yearlong analysis by the AP and KHN found at least 248 leaders of state and local health departments resigned, retired or were fired between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Experts say it's the largest exodus of public health leaders in American history.

7:01 p.m.: State employees’ pay will likely be restored this summer 

State employees took a 10% pay cut last year due to a budget deficit. Now, the union representing 100,000 of those workers says their pay will likely be restored this summer. 

As the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom craft the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the picture is very different than it was a year ago.

Instead of a gaping deficit, the state is flush with cash from a healthy economic recovery among wealthier taxpayers, and money from the federal American Rescue Plan.

The president of the state’s largest public employees union says it was written into an agreement that the pay cuts would be restored if the state doesn’t have to dip into its rainy day fund this year — which, with that much cash on hand, it shouldn’t need to.

Workers would also get a 2% raise which was deferred due to the pandemic.

The governor will issue a revised budget proposal next month.

6:56 p.m.: Chico State to require COVID-19 vaccination for student athletes and students living in campus housing

California State University, Chico will require a COVID-19 vaccination for student athletes and students living in campus housing.

Chico State spokesperson Michael Guzzi says the university is the first campus in the CSU system to impose such a mandate. Guzzi says the college's attorney believes they’re legally on firm ground.

“Groups like housing and athletics, where you’re making a choice to participate in those, then we can mandate it,” he said “As a requirement of getting your education, they’re still looking into us being able to do that.” 

Guzzi says there's been some push-back from students and parents. 

“We’ve gotten some feedback that some are not happy with it and we understand that,” he said. “We know there are a lot of other options for them to go do housing in the local area. We feel bad that they’re unhappy with the decision, but we know we’re making the right choice.” 

University staff will not be required to be vaccinated. Students may seek exemptions on medical and religious grounds.

Chico State expects about 1,800 students to move into campus housing for the fall semester. They must be fully vaccinated by July 30.

3:37 p.m.: Half of US adults have gotten at least one COVID-19 shot

Half of all adults in the U.S. have now received at least one COVID-19 shot, according to the Associated Press.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Sunday that another milestone in the nation’s largest-ever vaccination campaign was finally reached. However, it also leaves more work to do to convince skeptical Americans to roll up their sleeves.

The CDC says almost 130 million people 18 or older have received at least one dose of a vaccine, or 50.4% of the total adult population. Nearly 84 million adults, or about 32.5% of that population, have been fully vaccinated.

3:10 p.m.: LA schools served more than 120 million meals during pandemic

The Los Angeles Unified School District says it provided more than 123 million meals to students and community members in a program that was organized quickly when the coronavirus pandemic shuttered schools.

According to the Associated Press, the nation’s second-largest school district serves a significant low-income population and is normally a major source of students’ nutrition. When the pandemic arrived, officials set up school-based “grab and go” food centers for anyone, no questions asked.

On Monday, the district said that more than 93 million meals went to children and almost 30 million went to adults. The district began a phased reopening of schools last week, and the emergency food centers shut down April 16.

11:11 a.m.: Sacramento arts venues say it’s impractical to open under new California reopening rules

Multiple Sacramento performing arts venues say they’re not going to open just because they’re allowed to under new California rules.

State guidelines for indoor live performances that recently took effect impose capacity limits and direct guests to wear masks and sit six feet apart when attending events. Audience members are being asked to refrain from yelling, booing and singing.

The Sofia, home of B Street theater, producing artistic director Buck Busfield said they’d open the curtains “when the public tells us they’re ready to come.”

“Because for us to open for three or four weeks and have the light to no attendance is just impractical,” he said. “We’re going to reopen once and do it correctly, and we want to reopen quickly with bigger houses rather than having all that expense and just having a few people there.”

The new state guidelines allow for live, indoor performances in counties in the red, orange and yellow tiers. However, there are still capacity restrictions, which vary depending on the size of the space, and whether the venue chooses to ask patrons for vaccination records or negative COVID-19 tests at the door.

11 a.m.: Getting a jab on the job: Some companies, unions, offering COVID-19 vaccinations

A growing number of companies and labor unions are securing coronavirus vaccines for their workers, according to the Associated Press.

Large companies have hosted on-site inoculations, while smaller operations have helped book appointments for their workers. For these employers, the vaccines are a critical step toward restoring services when customer demand is expected to skyrocket.

For some workers, on-site injections can provide access they may have not had in their own communities amid persistent racial and socioeconomic gaps in vaccine distribution. Vaccination drives also allow companies to keep track of how many workers are vaccinated, although few employers require the shots at this point.

9:41 a.m.: Biden administration setting aside $1.7 billion to track COVID-19 variants

The Biden administration says the U.S. is setting up a $1.7-billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave.

According to the Associated Press, White House officials recently unveiled a strategy featuring three components: a major funding boost for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ramping up gene-mapping of coronavirus samples; the creation of six “centers of excellence” partnerships with universities to research gene-based pathogen surveillance, and building a data system to share and analyze disease threat information.

The effort relies on money approved by Congress as a part of President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package.

12:31 p.m.: As live, indoor performances return to California, guests may be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test

As of Thursday, performance venues throughout California can welcome guests indoors for concerts and productions as long as they follow certain rules released by the state earlier this month.  

These events have been banned since early in the pandemic, and Gov. Gavin Newsom said last year they would be one of the last activities to return as shelter-in-place orders eased.

Live, indoor performances are still forbidden in the purple, or most restrictive tier, though no counties are currently in that tier. In other tiers, how many people can attend these events depends on the size of the venue. In some cases, venues can increase their capacity if they only invite in people with negative COVID-19 tests or proof of full vaccination. 

The new state rules are as follows:

Venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people:

• Red tier: capacity is limited to 10% or 100 people, and capacity increases to 25% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. 
• Orange tier: capacity is limited to 15% or 200 people, and capacity increases to 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination
• Yellow tier: capacity is limited to 25% or 300 people, and capacity increases to 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. 

Venues with a capacity of 1,501 and above: 

• Red tier: testing or proof of vaccination is required, and capacity is limited to 20%.
• Orange tier: capacity is limited to 10% or 2,000 people, and capacity increases to 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. 
• Yellow tier: capacity is limited to 10% or 2,000 people, and capacity increases to 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. 

There will be other major changes for patrons at concerts or theatrical productions. Seating must be assigned and tickets must be purchased in advance and checked digitally. People should be seated six feet apart, though closer seating is permitted in sections where all patrons are vaccinated. 

Face coverings are mandatory, and the state says venues should remove guests who don’t comply. Guests are asked not to yell, sing, boo or chant during performances to reduce risk of transmission.

Concessions are only allowed in pre-designated eating areas. Venues should ensure that audiences enter and exit the venue in a staggered way. 

And to avoid having security personnel checking purses and backpacks, the state is urging venues to have patrons bring their belongings in a clear plastic bag.

9:51 a.m.: Sacramento County may close motels that sheltered hundreds during COVID-19 pandemic

According to housing advocates, Sacramento County has plans to close three motels this spring that have sheltered hundreds of formerly homeless residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plans to close the relatively successful Project Roomkey motels are sparking concerns that many recipients who benefited from a stable housing situation will end up back on the street.

“It’s going to be tragic,” said Bob Erlenbusch, Sacramento Regional Coalition To End Homeless executive director. “We’re trying to get a handle on why the county is doing this.”

County spokesperson Janna Haynes said officials were not prepared to discuss the plans publically this week.

County director of homeless initiatives, Cindy Cavanaugh, wrote in an email obtained by CapRadio that a regional homeless response team is “presently working hard to secure stable exits for guests.”

She added that the capacity at the motels “is about 372 rooms” and that more details would be shared in the coming days.

It’s currently unknown why the county is deciding to close the motels now, despite funding not appearing to be an issue. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in December that the federal government had authorized reimbursements for the program throughout the pandemic.

9:36 a.m.: California health officials expect no significant impact due to Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

California is directing vaccine clinics to hold off on administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, following the federal government’s health recommendation after six women reported getting “a rare and severe blood clot.” One woman died, and a second is in critical condition.

California state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said the pause is “out of an abundance of caution” and will last “until we receive further direction from health and safety experts.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he expects the pause to have no significant impact on the state’s supply or plans to reopen by mid-June. Many county officials agreed, saying they have enough supply to keep vaccinating residents without major interruptions.

Only 4% of the state’s current vaccine supply is from Johnson & Johnson.

9:12 a.m.: Some California counties say vaccine supply and scheduling still a problem

All Californians age 16 and up became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine yesterday — but it seems the expansion comes amid the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause, forcing some county health departments to shuffle their plans.

Some providers have found themselves needing to cancel appointments because of the J&J vaccine pause, like Sacramento’s Loaves & Fishes. Also, some Californians have found that whether they can get an appointment largely depends on what county they live in. Many counties are all at different stages in their vaccination roll-outs, which is generally based on population size and vaccine supply.

You can find out more information on scheduling a vaccine appointment here.

As of Friday, the state says all but two of California’s 58 counties have signed onto the statewide vaccine distribution network operated by Blue Shield of California. The 400 providers and nearly 2,500 vaccination sites currently in the health insurance giant’s network will eventually be accessible through the state’s vaccine scheduling platform, MyTurn.

Many counties were hesitant about signing on, arguing that they could handle their community roll-out more efficiently.

“MyTurn makes it impossible for us to target high-risk groups because we don’t get to control who signs up,” said Dr. Bela Matya, head officer for Solano County. “That’s a problem.”

3:54 p.m.: California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers

The California Legislature has passed a bill requiring some hotels and event centers to offer laid-off workers their jobs back, according to the Associated Press.

The bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday applies to employees who had their jobs at least six months before the pandemic started but lost their jobs due to coronavirus-related reasons.

Many Republicans opposed the bill, arguing it puts a burden on businesses by making them susceptible to fines of $500 per employee per day. However, Newsom has not said if he will or will not sign the bill. He vetoed a similar bill last year because he said it was too broad.

3:07 p.m.: US seems to be moving towards economic recovery

A much-awaited economic boom coming off the pandemic recession appeared to edge closer to reality Thursday, with fresh data showing the pace of layoffs dwindling, consumers spending freely and manufacturing rebounding. 

According to the Associated Press, the latest barometers point to an economy that’s steadily regaining its health as vaccinations accelerate. Business curbs are lifted in many states and more people are willing to travel, shop, eat out and otherwise resume their spending habits.

Though many Americans who have lost jobs or income are still suffering, hopes are rising that the recovery benefits will spread further in the coming months to groups of people who have yet to benefit.

10:28 a.m.: Nevadan among severe reaction to J&J COVID-19 vaccine

State health officials said they learned on Wednesday that a Nevadan was one of the six people nationally who have reported serious reactions to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Associated Press, state officials said when they announced on Tuesday the stoppage of that vaccine that no Nevadans were among the six cases federal authorities are investigating. On Wednesday, the governor’s spokesperson said they weren’t informed of the reported reaction in Nevada until a meeting earlier in the day of the public federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

She said Nevada officials are seeking an explanation as to why the report wasn’t provided to the state earlier.

10:04 a.m.: What is a coronavirus passport, and will I need one? It’s possible.

As more people get COVID-19 vaccines, efforts are underway to develop a way to show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test, according to the Associated Press.

“Vaccine passports,” or vaccine certificates could help you get into places such as stadiums or even countries that are looking to reopen safely. Supporters say passports could make reopenings faster and easier.

Critics say the passports would benefit people and countries with better access to vaccines. The certificates are still being developed, and how they might be used could vary widely. To ensure fairness, experts say they should be free and available on paper, not just on apps for smartphones.

9:50 a.m.: Unsheltered Americans are finally getting a chance at COVID-19 shot

Unhoused Americans who have been left off priority lists for coronavirus vaccinations — or bumped aside as states shifted eligibility to older age groups — are finally getting their shots as vaccine supplies increase.

According to the Associated Press, while the federal government has only incomplete data on infections among homeless people, it’s clear that crowded and sometimes unsanitary conditions at shelters increase the danger of COVID-19 infections. Those with underlying health conditions can also be more susceptible to severe illness.

COVID-19 outbreaks have been documented at homeless shelters in Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. Advocates say homeless people are at a greater risk of being infected and have a greater risk of being hospitalized and dying than the average person — meaning they should have been prioritized earlier.

However, with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine paused, it’s possible that this could affect supply. Sacramento’s Loaves & Fishes homeless shelter had started a weekly vaccination clinic on April 6 at the Delany Center Parking lot. Shots were being administered to people experiencing homelessness and those who are not.

However, with the J&J’s vaccine pause, Loaves & Fishes had to cancel their weekly vaccination drive until further notice.

5:43 p.m.: All California schools should be reopen in the fall, Gov. Newsom says

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said that he fully expects all schools to reopen in the fall, a goal that is a long time coming, but is still contingent on several factors. 

While California’s COVID-19 case rates continue to decrease and the number of people vaccinated increases, there’s still the looming threat of more dangerous variants. Additionally, California’s teachers unions and school districts will need to negotiate conditions on which campuses can reopen.

Still, Newsom was optimistic when making the announcement at a school playground in Sonoma County.

“We can do this. I understand the hesitancy. I understand the stress. I understand the anxiety,” Newsom said of educators. “But that does not compare to the stress and anxiety we'll have when we look back and dream of regretting that we could’ve, would’ve, should’ve prioritized our children at a critical moment in their young lives.”

Newsom has been previously criticized for being slow to reopen schools and for not requiring more in-person instruction hours before districts qualify for state financial incentives. Parents groups and lawmakers have said that Newsom instead caved to the California Teachers Association, which represents over 300,000 educators across the state. 

The labor union has long requested that teachers be vaccinated before returning to campus full time.

So far, the governor said that more than 9,000 of the state’s schools have reopened for in-person learning or have announced a date to do so.

Newsom stopped short of saying that he’d mandate campuses open in the fall.

5:33 p.m.: Some San Joaquin County museums start to reopen

Museums in San Joaquin County are reopening their doors to visitors now that the county has moved into the red tier. 

Lodi’s World of Wonders Science Museum is taking online advance tickets for admission from Thursday through Monday. 

Science Museum President Sally Snyde says some exhibits require downsizing such as City Blocks where children build cities.

“We have to cut back on the amount of blocks that we have out there, so we have to clean them and then put them back in," Snyde said. "We have a Lego station. We’re taking the Legos and sanitizing those and we’ve limited the size of the amount of the Legos and the blocks that are out there because of the time it takes to sanitize them.”

Snyde says the museum saw over 70,000 visitors in 2019, but capacity now is limited to 25% or about 100 people at a time. 

Meanwhile, the Children’s Museum in Stockton will welcome families on Friday. The Haggin Museum opened briefly in October and then shut down, and now will reopen on Thursday.

5:30 p.m.: US health officials continue Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

An expert advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided Wednesday it needed more time to consider whether to recommend to resume administering the COVID-19 vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson.

The committee's emergency meeting took place less than 36 hours after the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration called for a voluntary pause after receiving reports of serious side effects seen in six women who had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The advisory committee will reconsider a recommendation within the next 10 days. It declined to vote on a question of whether vaccinations might continue, perhaps with limits on who would receive it, effectively leaving the current pause in vaccinations in place.

Read more from NPR here.

5:27 p.m.: Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak criticized over reopening plans and credit

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak faces criticism from political opponents who claim he is trying to take credit for reopening the state.

According to the Associated Press, reopenings were previously promised to be delegated to counties. On Tuesday, Sisolak said that he was confident that all counties will be able to reopen at 100% capacity by June 1. 

He framed the announcement as good news and a result of successful policies. But the decisions he referred to will ultimately fall to county officials as reopening decisions will shift to them starting May 1. Some officials questioned the timing of Sisolak’s announcement and called it politically motivated.

5:25 p.m.: Red states on electoral map are lagging in vaccinations

A look at which U.S. states are leading at vaccinating against the coronavirus and which states are struggling is beginning to resemble America’s electoral map, according to the Associated Press.

Vaccination numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the states that tend to vote Democratic at the top of the list, in terms of the percentage of the adult population that’s received at least one shot. California is 12th on the list behind New Hampshire, New Mexico and Republican-leaning South Dakota.

At the bottom are five Republican-leaning states, including Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll in late March found that Republicans were three times as likely as Democrats to say they will probably or definitely not get vaccinated.

4:01 p.m.: I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, now what? Health officials say not to worry.

If you got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, don’t panic. 

According to the Associated Press, U.S. health officials recommended pausing vaccinations with J&J’s shot to look into reports of six patients with unusual blood clots out of nearly 7 million doses. Health officials say to be vigilant but to remember that reports of blood clots have been exceedingly rare. 

Symptoms to watch for include severe headache, backache, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, tiny red spots on the skin or bruising. Typically these would appear between one to three weeks after the shot. 

But experts still say not to worry about common COVID-19 vaccine side effects, like arm pain and flu-like symptoms.

3:56 p.m.: Nevada to pause use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

Nevada suspended the use of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines Tuesday while federal authorities investigate reports of people in other states experiencing severe reactions, including blood clots. 

According to the Associated Press, the state’s COVID-19 Task Force cited a CDC and FDA recommendation to pause using the single-dose vaccine out of an abundance of caution. The Southern Nevada Health District also said it stopped administering the vaccine in the Las Vegas area. 

Washoe County’s health district in Reno followed suit, as did the mobile clinics serving various rural areas statewide. Federal authorities are investigating six cases of women experiencing unusual clots several days after vaccination.

11:13 a.m.: California pauses Johnson & Johnson vaccinations

California state officials have directed counties and other providers to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while federal agencies look into a possible but rare blood clotting side effect.

According to the Associated Press, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the pause would neither affect plans to start inoculating all eligible adults on Thursday nor will it affect the state’s broad reopening plans set for mid-June.

Newsom and other high-profile California officials publicly received shots of the J&J vaccines in an attempt to demonstrate its safety. California was already expecting fewer J&J doses because of production issues.

10:38 a.m.: Some historically Black medical schools receive funds to expand COVID-19 vaccination efforts

Four historically Black medical schools are getting $6 million to expand coronavirus vaccination efforts in minority communities, according to the Associated Press.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropy announced the gifts on Tuesday to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine in Los Angeles, Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., Meharry Medical College in Nashville and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Each of the schools will use the money to buy additional mobile vaccination units. Vaccination rates lag in many Black communities, but fears that Black people would refuse the vaccine out of distrust have eased. Instead, the real issue seems to be that people may have trouble accessing the vaccine.

10:15 a.m.: Poll: 15% of Americans say they’re worse off a year into the pandemic

While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S., according to the Associated Press.

Overall, 55% of Americans said their financial circumstances are about the same now as a year ago, and 30% say their finances have improved, according to a new poll from Impact Genome and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

However, 15% of respondents said they are worse off, and the problem is more pronounced for people already living at lower income levels. About 29% of those living below the federal poverty level say their personal finances worsened in the past year.

1:55 p.m.: Over 50 people in Nevada prisons have died from COVID-19

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that at least 55 Nevadans in prison have died after contracting COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, according to the Associated Press.

The newspaper compared records from coroners around the state with data provided by the Department of Corrections in March. It found that the state Department of Health and Human Services tallied 53 incarcerated people along with three department employees who had died. The department is also reviewing the prison system's other two reported cases.

Prison officials didn't identify the names of the deceased inmates who died after testing positive for the coronavirus, citing medical confidentiality. The Review-Journal identified 39 people by name, all of whom were men.

11:53 a.m.: Only two California counties left in the purple tier

Inyo and Merced are the only two California counties left in the state’s most restrictive tier for reopening — the daunting purple — meaning no open bars or indoor dining along with strict limitations on live events and retail.

California’s 56 other counties have moved into less restrictive tiers like red, orange or yellow. However, Merced County supervisors are concerned that data lags are holding them back, while Inyo County, with 18,000 residents, says the system isn’t designed for less populous counties like theirs.

Last week, Inyo County’s COVID-19 case rate hovered just above the 10 cases per 100,000 residents needed to advance to the red tier. This week, its rate dropped to 2.3 cases, but counties need two weeks of low metrics before advancing.

The county could move into the red tier on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Merced County’s adjusted case rate as of Tuesday was 11.7 cases per 100,000 people, meaning it’s likely they’ll be stuck in the purple tier for at least two more weeks.

For at least the next two months, limits on restaurants, shopping, and events will continue to be determined by the state’s color-coded reopening blueprint.

11:46 a.m.: The pandemic's effect on music, arts in the Sacramento region

It's been more than a year since the coronavirus pandemic ushered in stay-at-home orders in California, shuttering some businesses and moving some work and schools online.

For musicians and artists who make their living from music, the pandemic's effects were felt worldwide. The live events industry lost $30 billion due to the pandemic. In the Sacramento Metropolitan Area alone, 15,810 creatives in all fields lost their jobs between April and July 2020, according to a report from the Brookings Institution.

Job losses weren't the only issue. $674 million was lost in sales in Sacramento creative industries. Other cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego lost a combined total of 330,000 creative jobs, leading to roughly $34.4 billion in lost revenue throughout the state.

11:15 a.m.: Covert neglect: Thousands of California nursing home residents die due to COVID-19

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, California state records show that more than 9,000 nursing home residents have died from the virus — about 16% of the state’s total deaths.

As COVID-19 transformed many nursing homes into death traps, health care experts believe the current death numbers are an undercount. Now, state regulators are scrambling to figure out how to protect some of California’s most vulnerable residents.

For example, at the Country Villa Sheraton nursing home in Los Angeles, 24 residents died due to COVID-19 last year. Other centers like Country Villa Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles and Country Villa Plaza in Santa Ana lost 13 residents each.

The devastation is by no means unique. Across the country, other facilities have also suffered crushing casualties from the pandemic.

Issues with licensing for nursing home operators in the state could prove to be a challenge, though.

According to CalMatters, records show that Los Angeles businessman Shlomo Rechnitz and his various businesses own about 81 nursing homes through a web of companies — including the previous three facilities — but isn’t licensed by the state to actually run them. Instead, public health officials have left his state license applications as “pending” for years.

“I’m just a little speechless when it comes to this ownership nightmare in California and how it’s gotten to this point,” said Molly Davies, the Los Angeles County long-term care ombudsman, whose office advocates for residents of nursing homes and other adult care facilities.

This leaves elder care advocates and some state leaders asking what the state public health department’s role is in ensuring timely compliance with licensing requirements. The Department of Public Health did not make anyone available to answer questions about or comment on the licensing process.

5:55 p.m.: Yosemite to open limited summer reservations

Better plan in advance if you plan a trip to Yosemite National Park this summer.

Starting May 21, you will need advanced reservations through Sept. 30. Last summer at the height of the pandemic, Yosemite required advance reservations to limit the number of visitors to the park to avoid overcrowding and provide social distancing. 

COVID-19 is still a concern but Yosemite is now in the orange tier in the state's reopening system. Park Ranger Jamie Richards says that will allow for more visitors and almost 6,000 vehicles per day.

“We have increased the number of passes that will be available," Richards said. "The most restrictive tier that we looked at was what we did last summer and we went up from there. And we will be increasing passes as conditions improve.”

Richards says people can sign up online at recreation.gov beginning April 21. 

She adds that the park has expanded the number of campsites and also increased lodging facilities.

2:28 p.m.: Do the vaccines protect against COVID-19 variants? Scientists think so but are still figuring it out.

U.S. health authorities recently announced that the COVID-19 mutation first identified in the United Kingdom last winter is now the predominant strain in the U.S., according to NPR.

The strain has been found in at least 130 other countries as well, but on a reassuring note, officials said there’s strong evidence that the three U.S.-approved vaccines offer good protection against this variant, especially against severe disease. 

However, this strain is just one of three “variants of concern” at large in the country and globally. One of the other variants, first identified in South Africa and dominant there, has now been found across southern Africa. The third variant was first identified in Brazil and has traveled all the way to Japan. This mutation is behind Brazil’s current surge in cases and has been identified across the Americas.

“We have seen an explosion [in research] — a paper almost every day,” said Salim Abdool Karim, an infectious disease researcher who co-chairs the COVID-19 advisory committee for South Africa.

11:25 a.m.: More counties open up vaccine eligibility to residents 16 and older

More California counties are opening up vaccines to younger adults about a week ahead of the state’s schedule, according to the Associated Press.

At the same time, California public health officials warned Thursday of decreases in supply because of a national reduction in the supply of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The state has received about 2.4 million doses this week, but it expects 2 million next week and 1.9 million the week after.

Fresno County opened up vaccinations to everyone 16 and up. Santa Clara County did as well, but appointments must be for April 15 or later. A mass vaccination site at California State University, Los Angeles announced it would take adults on a walk-up basis because of excess appointments, but had to start turning people away on Thursday.

11:16 a.m.: Hollywood Bowl to reopen with capacity limits for 2021 season

The Hollywood Bowl will reopen for the 2021 season with a limited-capacity audience due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association announced Friday that Bowl concerts will resume in May with a capacity of about 4,000 people based on current public health guidance, according to the Associated Press. Capacity is expected to go up later in the summer as guidelines evolve.

The reopening will begin with four free concerts for healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers. The Philharmonic says its other outdoor venue, The Ford, will also open with a 15-week run beginning in late July.

11:11 a.m.: Rural county in Nevada eschews masks, capacity limits ahead of state recommendations

Nye County, a rural area in southern Nevada, may step ahead of the rest of the state in a bid to lift mask mandates and business capacity limits, according to the Associated Press.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the Nye County Commission will consider a plan on April 20 to make face coverings optional and let businesses return to 100% occupancy. The move would put the county ahead of Nevada’s other 16 counties while the state COVID-19 Response Task Force reviews plans to turn over pandemic mitigation control to local authorities starting May 1.

Several other rural counties have also chafed at mask rules and occupancy limits.

5:19 p.m.: Locations picked for South Sacramento mass vaccination sites, but no estimate when they'll open 

Sacramento County health staff are gearing up to provide more vaccines in South Sacramento, a neighborhood disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Jamie White, a county health program manager, said there are plans underway to open mass vaccination clinics at Cosumnes River College and in the parking lot near the shopping center formerly called Florin Mall, both in the 95823 ZIP code. She says the county is still in talks over facilities agreements, and did not provide an estimate as to when those sites may be up and running.

All Californians over age 16 become eligible for vaccination appointments beginning April 15. Blue Shield, the insurance provider contracted with the state for the vaccination roll-out, is currently reporting a national decline in the number of vaccine doses available. 

White says the frequency and capacity of the South Sacramento clinics will depend on how many doses are available to the county and how many providers can administer them.

4:24 p.m.: Stockton Arena opens as mass vaccination site

The Stockton Arena opened up this week as the vaccine hub for the Central Valley, with the capacity to administer over 5,000 doses a day.

Kaiser Permanente has set up 36 stations inside the arena for vaccinating people who are 50 years and over. By April 15, eligibility throughout California will include anyone over 16. 

About 35% of San Joaquin County residents over 18 have been vaccinated. San Joaquin County Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park is urging local residents not to delay in getting vaccinated. 

“This mass vax hub is not only open to our residents but residents from other counties," Park said. "Please make sure you grab these appointments before people from other counties come in and take them all. That’s my fear."

The vaccine hub will be open seven days a week and vaccinations will be given at no charge. Appointments are necessary and people can sign up online at myturn.ca.gov.

11:21 a.m.: As some Sacramento Unified School District students restart some in-person learning, racial divides remain stark

The youngest kids enrolled in Sacramento City Unified schools have gone back today for in-person classes, but many families are still opting to keep their kids in distance learning for the rest of the year.

The school district's data shows that about 59% of kindergartners will learn in person this year. Eva Schwartz is the parent of a kindergartner going back to in-person learning. She said her son was getting bored and distracted with video conference learning.

"It's impossible to do online schooling for kindergarten because the majority of what you're learning in kindergarten is how to deal with other kids," Schwartz said. "You don't learn that online."

Some of the most significant differences in the choice to send kids back to school are along racial lines. While about 71% of white students will be sitting in classrooms again, only about 50% of Black and Latino students will do the same.

"Many Black and Brown parents often feel that schools are racially hostile toward their students, especially if their students are in racially mixed school settings," UCLA Professor of Education Tyrone Howard said. "So when Black and Brown [parents] feel like their children are already being subjected to racial microaggressions, exclusionary practices, disproportionate levels of school punishment, the thinking is, why would I send my students back if I don't have to?"

The Sac City data also showed that just a third of Asian American children will return to in-person classes, with 70% preferring to stay home and do remote learning. This is a statistic that stands in stark contract with students of other ethnicities and races.

Winnie Tam Hung is a parent of elementary students in Elk Grove Unified. She said she won't be sending either of her children back for in-person for several reasons.

"I'm hesitant because of all of this rise in anti-Asian violence," Hung said. "I experienced a lot of racial bullying as a kid … but given this current climate, I'm very hesitant about being out in public with my children and sending my children back to school."

Howard said school districts should reach out to families of color to find out how to make in-person school more comfortable for them.

10:54 a.m.: Are some COVID-19 vaccines more effective than others? Scientists are unsure since they are difficult to compare.

The COVID-19 vaccines rolling out worldwide weren’t compared to each other in studies, so it’s hard to tell how they might differ in effectiveness.

According to the Associated Press, experts say the vaccines are alike in what matters most: preventing hospitalizations and deaths. Although the studies conducted before the vaccines were rolled out found varying effectiveness levels, it’s an imprecise comparison since effectiveness can’t be analyzed apples-to-apples.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccine studies were conducted when COVID-19 cases were just mild, moderate, or severe. In contrast, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine didn’t count mild illnesses, and studies were done once mutated versions of the virus were a bigger concern.

10:24 a.m.: US unemployment claims jumped to over 740,000 as virus still forces layoffs

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to 744,000, signaling that many employers are still cutting jobs even as more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Associated Press.

On Thursday, the Labor Department said that applications increased by 16,000 from 728,000 a week earlier, even as consumers gain confidence and the government distributes aid throughout the economy.,

While jobless claims have declined sharply since the virus slammed into the economy in March of last year, the claims still remain high by historical standards. Before the pandemic erupted and overturned the economy, weekly applications typically remained below 220,000 a week.

3:41 p.m.: California lawmakers say trucking companies misclassifying drivers during pandemic

A group of California state lawmakers are accusing trucking companies of misclassifying their drivers as independent contractors during the pandemic.

Labor union leaders and a trio of Latina Democrats say the misclassification means that drivers who carry cargo from ports haven’t been able to get paid sick time or unemployment. Sen. Maria Elena Durazo said that in some cases, companies even make workers pay unemployment insurance taxes — something which employers should pay.

“In addition to the systematic wage theft, the pandemic has unveiled how misclassification has left a largely immigrant workforce without a safety net,” Durazo said.

She and two other lawmakers are running separate bills to crack down on the trucking companies by increasing transparency over disputes and withholding clean transportation grants, rebates and incentives.

A lobbyist with the California Trucking Association said in a statement that the bills will only hurt California’s climate goals and worsen supply chain bottlenecks.

3:34 p.m.: Mobile clinics going to Pahrump, Carson City

Health officials are taking mobile coronavirus vaccination units this week to the Nye County community of Pahrump and a northern Nevada tribal site in Carson City, according to the Associated Press.

In Las Vegas, a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site was opened Wednesday at Allegiant Stadium. The Southern Nevada Health District reported Tuesday it had more vaccination slots available than people booking appointments at its biggest shot sites, even though everyone 16 and older in the state is eligible to receive the vaccine.

On Tuesday, officials said that roughly 21% of the state population have been vaccinated.

10:52 a.m.: South Sacramento clinic plans to vaccinate 3,400 people on April 9

The Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center in South Sacramento is entering its fifth week of community vaccination, with plans to provide 3,400 inoculations to eligible residents on April 9.

In collaboration with Sacramento County Public Health, the city of Sacramento, Councilmember Mai Vang, plus many groups, the clinic has focused on equitable vaccine distribution.

"Since day one, we have been focused on ensuring that Sacramento recovers equitably from the COVID-19 pandemic," Vang said. "This starts with ensuring that vaccine access, resources and education are delivered in languages spoken by our community, by people trusted by our community — and that they're provided right here in south Sacramento, where they're needed the most."

Residents who have priority for the April 9 vaccinations include: 95815, 95824, 95838, 95660, 95823, 95832, 95639, 95820, 95828, 95841, 95842 & 95821.

Residents who qualify can contact the city of Sacramento Vaccine Text Hotline by texting "vaccine" to (916) 476-2225 to check eligibility and get put on a list for volunteers to schedule a vaccine appointment for Friday, April 9 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Appointments for a COVID-19 vaccine can also be made by calling any of these community partners: 

• Sacramento NAACP - (916) 750-5625 
• South Sac Christian Center - (916) 681-6791 
• Genesis Church - (916) 399-4936 
• Rose Family Creative Empowerment Center - (916) 376-7916 
• Antioch Progressive Church - (916) 385-8498 
• La Familia Counseling Center (speaks Spanish, Arabic, and Hmong) - (916) 990-1311 
• Tetteh Pediatric Health (speaks Spanish and Hmong) - (916) 224-8244 
• Hmong Innovating Politics (speaks Hmong) - (916) 546-5254 
• Hmong Youth & Parents United (speaks Hmong) - (916) 761-1840 
• CPALSs (speaks Vietnamese) - (916) 891-9999

10:10 a.m.: Once reopened, California will simplify coronavirus restrictions

California is turning to a more straightforward, statewide approach as it prepares to lift most pandemic restrictions on businesses and workplaces by June 15, according to the Associated Press.

Gov. Gavin Newsom had previously adopted a system that put each of the 58 counties into one of four color-coded tiers based on a slew of metrics on case rates and hospitalizations, leading to each county often being open at different restriction levels.

Now, that’s all going out the window as long as most Californians can access the vaccine and hospitalization rates remain low by the start of the summer. The news comes as California expects to have administered more than 30 million vaccine doses by the end of April and as case rates are low.

9:55 a.m.: More than 500,000 Americans have signed up for health insurance coverage in expanded window

The government recently reported that more than half a million Americans have already taken advantage of the Biden administration’s special health insurance sign-up window that’s tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And according to the Associated Press, the government anticipates even more people will gain coverage in the coming months. Why? That’s because millions of people just became eligible for pumped-up taxpayer subsidies toward their premiums under President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief legislation.

With the number of uninsured Americans rising during the pandemic due to layoffs, Biden reopened the law’s health insurance markets as a backstop. Since then, the virus aid package also essentially delivered a health insurance price cut by making taxpayer subsidies more generous while allowing more people to qualify for financial assistance.

6:10 p.m.: San Joaquin County moves out of purple tier

San Joaquin County has moved out of the purple tier for COVID-19 restrictions and into the less restrictive red tier. 

El Dorado County is also moving into a less restrictive tier from red to orange. 

“California is making great progress in administering COVID-19 vaccine doses,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency. “We must continue to do our best to vaccinate Californians as safely and quickly as possible. Our vaccine equity focus remains the right thing to do and ensures we are having the greatest impact in reducing transmission, protecting our health care delivery system and saving lives.”

Under the red tier, restaurants and movie theaters will be able to reopen indoors at 25% capacity, while gyms can reopen indoors at 10% capacity. Museums may also resume indoor operations at 25% capacity. In the orange tier, that rises to 50% capacity for restaurants and movie theaters and 25% for gyms. Bars can also reopen outdoors with modifications in the orange tier.

On Tuesday California announced it had administered 4 million vaccine doses in hard-hit areas, measured by the state's Healthy Places Index. That triggered a loosening of the tier thresholds, allowing some counties to move into less-restrictive tiers faster.

The purple tier threshold will remain at greater than 10 cases per 100,000 residents. The red  tier will narrow to 6-10 cases per 100,000, and the orange tier range will shift to 2-5.9 cases per 100,0000.  The yellow tier will move to 2 cases per 100,000.

5:56 p.m.: Gov. Newsom announces plan to fully reopen California economy 

Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday announced a plan to fully reopen California’s economy if current coronavirus trends continue. 

California has administered more than 20 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, and supply is still ramping up. Newsom says as long as that continues, and if hospitalizations remain low, the state’s color tier system for business restrictions can end.

“We’ll be moving past the dimmer switch, we’ll be getting rid of the blueprint as  you know it today,” he said. “That’s on June 15 if we continue the good work.”

Masks and other health measures will still be required in public.

Last week, the state indicated that some businesses could begin requiring proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to get in.

Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UC San Francisco, says even with COVID-19 variants, this is good news.

“Most of the signals are positive and I think there’s a very good chance we’ll be in an excellent place and it will be appropriate to return not quite to normal, but to normal-ish,” he said. 

Wachter says the vaccines have been remarkably effective at staving off the virus. His only advice for people looking to return to their favorite activities this summer is: “Get vaccinated.” 

Every Californian over the age of 16 becomes vaccine eligible April 15.

3:27 p.m.: Nevada senator encourages people to use state health insurance exchange thanks to federal subsidies

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada is encouraging people to shop on the state's health insurance exchange to determine if they can get cheaper coverage thanks to the new federal coronavirus relief law.

According to the Associated Press, the senator said that the relief law increases subsidies for 60,000 Nevada residents already receiving them to help pay for their health insurance on the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. She says the new law also makes 40,000 others eligible for subsidies.

Anyone receiving unemployment benefits is eligible for free monthly premiums and can receive help with paying copays and deductibles. As of Monday, the state has allowed anyone 16 and older to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine.

12:04 p.m.: UC Davis expands vaccine eligibility to people 16 and older today

Starting on April 6, anyone aged 16 years or older will now be eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at UC Davis Health.

The university is participating in California's new centralized vaccination system, MyTurn, to assist with scheduling. Those interested can sign up for an appointment with their MyUCDavisHealth login, or they can schedule an appointment here. People who are not UC Davis Health patients can also schedule an appointment here.

COVID-19 vaccines are at no cost to the patient, but appointments must be scheduled before receiving a shot. The university is not accepting walk-ins, and appointments will be based on vaccine supply. As more vaccines become available, more appointments will open in the future.

10:12 a.m.: People incarcerated in prisons across the US still lack vaccine access

Vaccinating most Americans is plenty tough — and it’s worse if you’re in prison.

According to data collected by The Marshall Project and The Associated Press, people inside prisons are not free to seek out vaccines and, on the whole, lack access almost entirely. Fewer than 20% of people in state and federal prisons have been vaccinated. In some states, prisoners and advocates have resorted to lawsuits to get access to vaccines.

About 3 in 10 people in the prison system have tested positive, and 2,500 have died. Prisons across the country are often overcrowded, with limited access to health care and protective gear. Populations inside are also more likely to have preexisting medical conditions.

In some facilities, even basic supplies like soap and toilet paper have been scarce. Mask-wearing is inconsistently enforced among both residents and guards. Prison residents often spend time in communal spaces, and open floor plans do little to contain the virus. Entire dormitories have reported being sick with COVID-19 symptoms.

Some prisoners hesitate to report feeling sick out of fear they’ll be placed in solitary confinement without proper care. Others report waiting days for medical care, sometimes being turned away or provided only aspirin.

5:25 p.m.: COVID-19 cases increasing in much of the country

Many areas of the United States are starting to see an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, according to an NPR analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

The increases vary throughout the country. The Midwest has seen a 58% increase in new cases over the past 14 days, while the number of cases in the Northeast has climbed by 30%. Cases in the West rose by 5% and the South showed a slight decline.

In California, new cases have stayed steady over the past two weeks at around 2,700 per day. But that comes after weeks of declining case numbers following this winter's surge, where more than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases were identified in the state each day. Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 continue to decline.

5:19 p.m.: Crocker Art Museum reopens

The Crocker Art Museum is reopening Thursday now that Sacramento County is in the less restrictive red tier in California's COVID-19 reopening system. 

The museum first closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic. It reopened briefly in mid-October for an exhibition of Wayne Thiebaud paintings before abruptly closing in November because of new pandemic shutdown orders. 

Crocker Art Museum Mort and Marcy Friedman Director and CEO Lial Jones said on CapRadio's Insight Monday that now is the right time to reopen.

"We're following CDC and state guidelines and Sacramento County has now entered the red tier so we're allowed to open to 25% capacity and we're happy to do so," Jones said.

Beginning this week, the Crocker will be open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance ticket reservations are required and all visitors must wear face coverings. The museum will have four new showings, including an exhibition featuring the landscapes, shoreline and towns of the Netherlands. Jones said the Thiebaud exhibit will be back next year.

4:18 p.m.: Testing rates, vaccine equity keep San Joaquin County in purple tier

As most California counties move into less restrictive tiers under the state’s reopening system, San Joaquin County is one of just three remaining in the most severe purple category.

Ginger Manss is chief nursing officer for Community Medical Centers, a network of health clinics serving low-income and uninsured patients in the Central Valley. She says there are two things holding San Joaquin County back.

“One is our testing rates — our positivity rates are just over where they need to be in order to move to the next tier,” she said. “The second one is our health equity, getting our vaccines to the people most in need.”

Health officials say people haven’t been seeking tests as often since the vaccine roll-out began. 

When people aren’t getting tested after travel or potential exposures, they may be unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

County representatives say this is happening more in a handful of low-income ZIP codes. The county health department says they’ve added testing and vaccination sites in 10 of these areas where they’re seeing high case numbers.  They hope this will slow the spread, and help them meet the state’s new vaccine distribution rules.

They’re hoping to change tiers later this month. In the meantime, they’re asking everyone to continue wearing masks and avoiding indoor gatherings.

4:10 p.m.: Newsom urges vaccination, continued vigilance over Easter holiday

A day after being inoculated with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Gavin Newsom was in San Diego Friday urging people eligible for COVID shots to get them. 

"These vaccines are safe,” he said. “I took the vaccine 24 hours ago, honestly slept like a baby, feel great, no impacts whatsoever and I can't honestly ... I was trying to figure out, was it my left arm or my right arm? ... I can't even feel where the vaccine was administered."

With Easter two days away, Newsom also asked the public to stay vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID.

"Let's not run the 90-yard dash, let's not put down our guard, let's not drop these masks, let's continue to be mindful as we move into this very important holiday weekend," he said.

Meanwhile, the state public health department Thursday lifted a travel recommendation for Californians to stick close to home. 

10:11 a.m.: As California expands vaccine access, clinics, residents in underserved communities try to fill in the vaccination gap

Latinos make up less than 40% of California's population but account for more than half of the state's COVID-19 cases.

Large immigrant and agricultural communities in counties like Merced have found their residents hit especially hard. Now, California is hoping that allocating 40% of doses to underserved communities can make an impact.

But to reach the people most in need, local clinics and residents are left to do much of the legwork. At Castle Family Health in Merced, workers are sending out organized social media campaigns to the community to answer their questions about the vaccine and correct misinformation. The health center has also been organizing large vaccination pop-ups in the county for teachers and other essential workers, along with outreach to local farms.

Other local clinics rely on what they call "promotoras" — people with deep connections in the Latino community who can broker connections between residents and the health care system.

While state officials acknowledge the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Latinos and other communities of color, efforts towards vaccine equality over the past year have barely moved the needle.

The death rate for Latinos is 22% higher than the statewide average. While vaccines are allocated to neighborhoods and counties in need, supply still remains an issue.

The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be a big part of the ramp-up and could help immunize transient populations, like migrant farmworkers.

9:28 a.m.: More on-site casino vaccination centers open up for hospitality workers in Las Vegas

Another Las Vegas casino operator says it will offer on-site coronavirus vaccinations to hospitality workers, according to the Associated Press.

Station Casinos said that it will host clinics starting on Tuesday at six of its properties in Las Vegas and suburban Henderson. American Medical Response will administer COVID-19 vaccines by appointment for workers and family members.

Station joins MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, the Cosmopolitan and Wynn Resorts with programs to inoculate employees on-site. Nevada state health officials reported 350 additional COVID-19 cases on Thursday, pushing the total number of state cases past 304,000 since March 2020. Including seven new deaths brings the death total to 5,256.

9:09 a.m.: Fully vaccinated Americans can travel again, CDC says

Add travel to the activities vaccinated Americans can enjoy again, according to the Associated Press.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on Friday to announce that fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. without getting a COVID-19 test or going into quarantine. The agency previously cautioned against unnecessary travel, even for vaccinated people.

According to the CDC, nearly 100 million people in the U.S. — about 30% of the population — have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, a person is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose.

Fully vaccinated people should still wear a mask and socially distance when traveling. For international travel, vaccinated people should still get a COVID-19 test before flying to the U.S. and be tested soon after returning. Travelers do not need to quarantine.

It should be noted that traveling could potentially introduce virus variants, and due to differences in vaccine coverage around the world, the CDC still urges caution on overseas travel.

Unvaccinated people are still advised to avoid any unnecessary travel.

5:20 p.m.: State advisory no longer tells residents to avoid traveling more than 120 miles from home

California has updated its coronavirus travel advisory to remove the recommendation that Californians not travel more than 120 miles from home.

The state still advises that postponing travel and staying home are the best ways to protect yourself and others from the virus. 

The update to the travel advisory comes the same day the state opened vaccine eligibility to all those 50 and older. 

The state has issued the following guidance for travelers:

• All travelers arriving in or returning to California from other states or countries should follow CDC travel guidance.
• All travelers should get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before travel.
• All travelers who test positive or develop symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate and follow public health recommendations.

To date, more than 18.4 million vaccine doses have been administered in California.

5:08 p.m.: State audit credits public health department on testing, but contact tracing falls short

The state auditor released a report Thursday that found the California Department of Public Health’s pandemic spending has had mixed results. 

The department has exceeded its testing expectations — doubling its target goal at the end of last year.

But it struggled in other areas. The state and its local counterparts have less than half the number of contact tracers it originally planned to hire.

And oversight of spending by local health departments has been lacking. The auditor found the state failed to collect progress reports from all counties and didn’t conduct proper evaluations of its data systems.

The Department of Public Health says it will revise its plan for hiring contact tracers and will work with counties to ensure they file necessary updates.

4:56 p.m.: Gov. Newsom receives Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine

Gov. Gavin Newsom has received his dose of the one-shot Johnson-and-Johnson COVID vaccine. He got it Thursday, the same day people 50 and older in California became eligible for inoculations.

"Today's an important day obviously with the opportunity now for people my age that have been waiting," said Newsom, who is 53.

Afterward, Newsom urged Californians to remain vigilant in wearing masks and social distancing.

"The disease is not taking Easter weekend off. This disease is not taking spring break off. This disease remains as deadly as it's ever been," he said.

California has administered more than 18 million doses so far and 6.7 million people are fully vaccinated. The Democratic governor likely will face a recall election stemming partly from his handling of the pandemic.

10:45 a.m.: Elk Grove Unified School District reopening middle and high school for in-person learning

Elk Grove Unified School District is welcoming back middle and high school students to in-person instruction on Thursday.

Students have the option of coming back to campus two days a week while wearing masks and sitting six feet apart. EGUSD Spokesperson Xanthi Soriano said some elementary school students have already been back in classrooms for the past couple of weeks and are following safety guidelines.

“On campus, we’re still maintaining six feet apart, starting or effective April 13, we will be changing that to reconfigure desks to three feet apart, with few exceptions,” Soriano said.

Soon older students will also be able to return for four days-a-week in-person instruction with desks spaced three feet apart, as per federal health guidelines.

“We’re going to see another wave of students being able to access the resources that we have at our schools,” Soriano said. “It will be just a great opportunity for them to have access to a routine and all of the school sites, including nutrition.”

While the district has had to deal with COVID-19 exposures since reopening, Soriano said the school is prepared to control transmission through quarantine and contact tracing.

10:15 a.m.: Can I still spread COVID-19 even after I’m vaccinated? Yes, but the risk seems low.

AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin

Experts are still studying how good COVID-19 vaccines are at preventing people from spreading the virus, but they believe the risk is low, according to the Associated Press.

The current vaccines are highly effective at preventing people from getting seriously sick with the coronavirus but even vaccinated people could get asymptomatically infected and spread it to others.

Given the uncertainty, experts say fully vaccinated people should continue to wear masks, social distance in public, and when visiting unvaccinated and high-risk friends and family.

10:09 a.m.: Biden launches community corps to boost COVID-19 vaccinations across US

The Biden administration is unveiling a coalition of community, religious and celebrity partners to promote COVID-19 shots as it seeks to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

According to the Associated Press, the Department of Health and Human Services' new "We Can Do This" campaign features television and social media ads.

The campaign relies on a community corps of public health, athletic, faith, and other groups to spread the word about the three approved coronavirus vaccines' safety and efficacy.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy met Thursday with more than 275 inaugural community corps members to kick off the effort.