California Coronavirus Updates: Vietnam Faces New Highly Transmissible COVID-19 Variant

Traffic increase expected for Memorial Day weekend 

4:17 p.m.: Ship crews in Southern California are getting vaccinated at ports

Ship crews arriving at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are being offered COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Associated Press.

The port of Long Beach says more than 450 crewmembers from 27 ships have received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and nearly 480 more sailors on 29 ships are booked for vaccinations.

The shots are administered without charge to international crews aboard ships calling on the San Pedro Bay. It’s a joint effort of the Port of Long Beach, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, along with the National Guard.

4:15 p.m.: Tokyo Olympics under pressure of Osaka COVID-19 outbreak

Japan has extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas for 20 more days, with infections still not slowing as it prepares to host the Olympics in just over 50 days.

According to the Associated Press, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says the decision was made because cases remain high and medical systems in Osaka, the hardest-hit area in western Japan, are still overburdened.

The Olympics are scheduled to start July 23 after a one-year postponement due to the pandemic, and worries about new variants and Japan’s slow vaccination rollout have triggered calls from the public, medical experts and even a sponsor to cancel the games.

9:27 a.m.: CEO pay explodes to $12.7 million even as pandemic continues to ravage economy, regular Americans

While many Americans found themselves losing their jobs or getting a reduction in wages during the pandemic, CEO pay rose again last year.

According to the Associated Press, the typical pay package for CEOs at S&P 500 companies hit $12.7 million, shooting up 5%.

While some high-profile CEOs took pay cuts as an act of “shared sacrifice,” salary is often just a very minor piece of a CEO’s total compensation, which is derived from notoriously complex formulas. The AP reports that for 2020, the total amount salary contributes to a CEO’s compensation package is roughly 7.7%.

With the coronavirus pandemic upending the economy, some companies even retooled performance targets to make it easier for CEOs to earn bonuses.

Other companies decided to give retention bonuses instead, saying they needed to “hold onto CEOs’ leadership through the crisis.”

CEOs at the biggest companies got a healthy raise even as their stock prices plummeted due to the pandemic and wiped away corporate profits and jobs for millions of workers.

Progressives in Washington are pushing for rules changes to narrow the gap between CEOs and workers, as the difference between CEO pay and employee pay has ballooned to 172 times this year — meaning an employee would have to work their entire lives to make what their CEO brings home in just a year.

9:16 a.m.: People are traveling again in planes, trains, buses, cars and more for the holiday weekend

It seems like it’s going to be crowded at airports and on the road this Memorial Day weekend.

According to the Associated Press, Americans were hitting the road in near-record numbers at the start of the holiday weekend. More than 1.8 million people went through U.S. airports on Thursday, and that number could top 2 million travelers over the weekend — the highest mark since early March of last year.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is warning travelers to expect long lines at airports. AAA expects a 60% jump in travel over Memorial Day last year despite higher prices for airline tickets, gasoline and hotels.

3:56 p.m.: California has backlog in paying out COVID-19 affected renter relief money

California has paid out less than 5% of federal relief money requested by renters affected by COVID-19 hardships, according to a new report.

When Jaylynn Bailey lost work during the pandemic, she waded through the state's bureaucracy to secure her unemployment insurance, but the freelance writer from Pasadena hasn't been so successful with California's rent relief program.

"We're at a loss. We don't know where we are in the system," Bailey said. "We don't know if our landlord has outright rejected the program. There's just been no communication."

Under the program, the state pays landlords 80% of a tenant's back rent from April last year through the end of March. The landlord is then required to forgive the remaining unpaid rent.

Debra Carlton of the California Apartment Association says the landlords her organization represents are also waiting for the funds.

"Rental property owners are desperate for dollars," Carlton said. "Some of them haven't been paid in over a year."

At a press conference this week, Bailey said her application was approved, but the release of the money is contingent upon her landlord participating, and they haven't agreed to so far.

Bailey feels like this leaves her "essentially in limbo." She's not alone, either.

A new report from a group of housing advocates shows that the state has paid out $20 million of the $473 million requested so far.

Russ Heimerich is with the state's housing agency. He says the distribution is slow because the state wants to prevent fraud.

"We are ramping things up. Twenty million dollars has been paid so far," Heimerich said. "We have another $122.6 million that is pending approval."

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently proposed to cover 100% of back rent owed by low-income renters. Tenant groups say that could spur more landlords to participate and that the governor and legislature must negotiate any changes to the rent relief program.

3:48 p.m.: Facebook won’t remove posts about COVID-19 being human-made anymore

Facebook says it will no longer remove from its website or apps claims that COVID-19 is human-made or manufactured.

According to the Associated Press, the change comes “in light of ongoing investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and its consultation with public health experts,”  Facebook said. The company has long battled a tide of coronavirus-related misinformation.

It said in December it would remove vaccine related misinformation, for example. President Joe Biden recently ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory. 

3:26 p.m.: Poll finds Californians overwhelming optimistic about moving past COVID-19

According to a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California, more than 80% of Californians believe the worst of the pandemic is behind them.

The PPIC Associated Surveys Director Dean Donner says the actual number, 86%, is a big jump from the 74% of people in March of this year who believe the same, and an even larger jump from the 46% of respondents from May 2020.

“It’s night and day compared to a year ago,” Bonner said. “Associated with that, we’re also seeing the share of folks who are concerned about getting the coronavirus really plummeted.”

Nearly three-quarters of Californians say they either have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine or will get it, according to the PPIC. Bonner says that’s up from less than half in January. Around 50% of Californians have been fully-vaccinated.

But, Bonner said that the picture changes among people of color.

“We’ve seen some hesitancy in those groups reduced some, but they’re still kind of lagging behind when it comes to actually having gotten the vaccine,” he said.

As for the economic effects of the pandemic, a quarter of all Californians say they are worse off than they were a year ago. That number climbs to 30% among lower-income residents.

10:14 a.m.: This year’s summer travel may have longer waits, fewer options

After a year of coronavirus lockdowns, the start of summer beckons vacation-goers with new plans made possible by relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.

However, according to the Associated Press, a severe worker shortage across the country brings a warning for travelers — expect delays and maybe pack a little extra patience into your bags.

Lifeguards and hotel housekeepers are in short supply and so are rental cars. And don’t even count on having a fruity cocktail at the hotel Tiki bar.

Some hotels aren’t filling all of their rooms or changing the sheets as often because they don’t have enough housekeepers. Six of the most popular national parks — including Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Acadia, and Zion — will require reservations for many visitors to allow for social distancing.

The labor shortage is hitting the nation’s tourist destinations just as they try to rebound from a year lost to the pandemic. It threatens to derail the travel industry’s recovery even as many Americans are itching to get away again at last.

“This is nothing like we’ve ever seen before,” said Michelle Woodhull, president of Charming Inns, which includes four small hotels and a fine dining restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina.

The company has limited room reservations by 20% during some weeks and reduced seating at the restaurant, said Woodhull, who recently fielded a complaint from a customer who couldn’t get a table for four weeks.

“Unfortunately, that is a reality,” she said, adding that it’s better than delivering poor service. “What business wants to turn away business, especially after the year we’ve had?”

9:59 a.m.: Can employers make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory? Yes, but with exceptions.

Experts say employers can make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for employees, but with some exceptions, according to the Associated Press.

Employers generally have a broad scope to make rules for the workplace, including safety measures. That doesn’t necessarily mean you would get fired if you refuse, but you might need to sign a waiver or agree to work under specific conditions to limit any risk you might pose to yourself or others.

Still, many employers might not want to require vaccination because of the administrative burden of tracking compliance and managing exemption requests. As a result, experts say many employers will likely strongly encourage vaccination without making it mandatory.

9:39 a.m.: As states open up, shopping resumes

As the masks come off, Americans find themselves going back to one of their favorite pastimes — store shopping.

According to the Associated Press, with vaccinations rolling out across the country and with retailers dropping mask guidelines, shopping giants like Walmart to Macy’s are seeing an eager return to their physical stores after months of watching their customers focus on online buying during the pandemic.

The return offers a big relief to retailers for various reasons, such as — making purchases at the store can be more profitable than online buying because of shipping costs. Shoppers also return less than when buying online and also tend to do more impulse buying in person.

Still, retailers, particularly mall-based stores and other specialty stores, face plenty of challenges to keep shoppers coming back.

3:27 p.m.: Federal government taking down Medicaid scams preying on COVID-19 misinformation

The Justice Department is announcing criminal charges against more than a dozen people from Florida to California in a series of Medicare scams that exploited coronavirus fears to bill tens of millions of dollars in bogus claims.

According to the Associated Press, a common hook involved a variant of identity theft: Fraudsters allegedly offered COVID-19 tests to get the Medicare numbers of unsuspecting patients and then used that information to bill for lucrative but unneeded genetic tests costing thousands of dollars.

Wednesday’s charges look back to the early months of the pandemic when there was a high demand for COVID tests still in short supply. Officials said a new pervasive scam now involves peddling fake vaccination cards.

11:02 a.m.: Legal experts say businesses are allowed to ask for proof of vaccination from customers

An image appearing on Instagram and Twitter falsely claims that businesses cannot legally require customers to provide proof of vaccination or deny entry based on vaccination status. The post incorrectly cites the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Title III of the U.S. Civil Rights Act as the reason for this.

PolitiFact California rates this as false.

Furthermore, the image alleged that business owners or employees who “violated your rights” could be held liable under a section of federal law that addresses deprivation of rights, which could result in imprisonment or the death penalty.

Legal experts say the truth is that businesses are indeed allowed to ask for proof of vaccination from customers. In some states, certain businesses are required to ask about vaccination status under current reopening guidelines.

Additionally, businesses can generally deny entry to unvaccinated customers, provided they offer reasonable accommodations for people who might be unable to receive a vaccine because of a disability, a medical condition, or their religious beliefs. Experts say a reasonable accommodation does not necessarily mean the individual would be able to walk into the business or access their services in person.

Experts also say the law cited as punishment applies to public officials, not private businesses. No business owner or employee who asks a customer for proof of vaccination would be imprisoned for life or face the death penalty.

10:54 a.m.: San Francisco residents debate reopening streets to cars

During the pandemic, San Francisco closed miles of streets to automobiles so that people could exercise and socialize safely outside, according to the Associated Press.

Other cities did the same, including Paris and New York. With the pandemic nearly over, walking and biking advocates want to keep the streets off-limits to vehicles. The roads in question include a four-lane highway along the Pacific Ocean and a stretch in Golden Gate Park.

Advocates say this is a once in a generation chance to make streets more friendly to people, not cars.

Seattle and New York are also among U.S. cities looking to make temporary auto-free streets permanent. In Europe, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced plans to ban most vehicular through-traffic in the city’s center, with the exceptions of public transit, delivery trucks and residents.

In San Francisco, pedestrian advocates say there are options to ensure that people who can’t easily bike or walk can still visit Golden Gate Park, including designated drop-off sites and programs for low-income families. They also want more so-called street calming measures to slow traffic and improve safety on affected neighborhood roads.

10:26 a.m.: Biden asks US intelligence to investigate origins of COVID-19 pandemic

President Joe Biden is asking U.S. intelligence agencies to “redouble” efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Associated Press.

He said there’s insufficient evidence to conclude “whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident.” Biden directed U.S. national laboratories to assist with the investigation and called on China to cooperate with international probes into the origins of the pandemic.

He held out the possibility that a firm conclusion may never be known, given the Chinese government’s refusal to fully cooperate with international investigations.

3:27 p.m.: Placer, Merced, and other counties move to less-restrictive COVID-19 tier

Four counties are moving to a less restrictive tier in California's color-coded reopening system, state officials announced Tuesday.

Merced and Placer counties are moving from the red to the orange tier. Inyo and Mariposa counties are both moving from orange to yellow. No counties moved into a more restrictive tier.

As of today, no counties remain or have moved back into the most-restrictive purple tier. Eight counties, including Sacramento County, are still in the red tier. Thirty-five counties, including Yolo, Sutter and El Dorado, are all in the orange tier. Fifteen counties, including Amador county, are in the Yellow tier.

Sacramento and San Joaquin counties could move from the red tier into the orange tier as soon as next week after meeting the requirements Tuesday. Counties have to meet the requirements for a less-restrictive tier for two weeks before moving.

Last week state health officials confirmed California will end the tier system June 15 when the state reopens its economy.

3:23 p.m.: Las Vegas holds vaccine clinic pop-up at strip club

Las Vegas officials held a pop-up vaccine clinic last Friday at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club.

According to the Associated Press, while the site was unconventional for a walk-in clinic, government officials and health workers are trying to address the slowing demand for COVID-19 vaccines by turning to creative ways to incentivize people to get a shot.

JoAnn Rupiper with the Las Vegas-area health department says it’s just one more way to reach the community.

The clinic opened for several hours Friday night, administering shots to about 100 people before the strip club opened for its usual business. Several workers at the club got their shots at the clinic along with members of the public.

2:52 p.m: US advises against travel to Japan ahead of Tokyo Olympics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the State Department, are warning Americans against all travel to Japan because of a surge in coronavirus cases, according to the Associated Press.

This advisory comes just as the country is preparing to host the Olympics in just two months. The twin alerts issued on Monday don’t ban U.S. citizens from visiting the country, but traveling there could impact insurance rates for travelers and may factor into decisions by the Olympic athletes and spectators on whether to compete in or attend the games this July.

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee said it still anticipates that American athletes will be able to safely compete.

10:20 a.m.: Moderna working on COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 12

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects kids as young as 12 from COVID-19, according to the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the company released the preliminary findings based on testing on more than 3,700 12- to 17-year-olds in the U.S. Earlier this month, the U.S. and Canada authorized another vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech to be used starting at age 12.

Moderna intends to submit its data to the Food and Drug Administration and other global regulators early next month. The pharmaceutical giant says its vaccine triggered the same signs of immune protection in kids as it does in adults, and the same mild, temporary side effects.

10:10 a.m.: Schools turn to mascots, others to help get teens vaccinated

A growing number of public schools are using mascots, food trucks and prize giveaways to encourage students to get vaccinated before summer vacation, according to the Associated Press.

The massive effort to create a pep rally atmosphere comes only weeks after the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine was approved for younger adolescents ages 12 to 15. Administrators are trying to get as many shots in students’ arms as possible.

San Diego’s school district is the second-largest in California, with about 120,000 students, and many schools have been hosting vaccine clinics at schools in communities with low vaccination rates.

While most California public schools reopened in April, fewer than half of students resumed in-person learning, according to an analysis by the nonprofit EdSource. Many continued with online learning, while some dropped out altogether or went to private school.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest in the state with about 600,000 students, plans to have a mobile vaccination team visit every middle and high school campus at least once before the school year ends June 11. The events will feature food trucks and music.

Superintendent Austin Beutner said the district is offering paid leave for district employees to get their children inoculated. Schools where more than 30% of students are vaccinated will receive $5,000 for projects, and students can decide how the money is used.

The school-based clinics also help administer shots to hard-to-reach populations who feel more comfortable going to their neighborhood school instead of a mass vaccination site.

For local school vaccination clinics, information can be found linked below:

• Sacramento City Unified School District
• Elk Grove Unified School District

10:03 a.m.: San Diego County vaccinates people at Mexican border

San Diego County and private businesses have donated 10,000 coronavirus vaccines to vaccinate workers at U.S.-owned border assembly plants in Tijuana known as maquiladoras.

According to the Associated Press, Mexico’s top diplomat said the program is aimed at helping equalize vaccination rates at closely connected points along the U.S.-Mexico border. Foreign Relations Secretary Marcel Ebrard said the Mexican government hopes to replicate the program all along the border.

The vaccines are being administered by medical personnel from the University of California, San Diego, at the San Ysidro border crossing. The program started Monday with about 150 to 22 shots administered per hour.

3:53 p.m.: City, health leaders want to break barriers To get South Sacramento vaccinated

South Sacramento has struggled during the pandemic. Early on, the area’s 95823 zip code was a hotspot for COVID-19, as the neighborhood’s many low-income residents continued to work as others sheltered in place.

Fast-forward one year, and issues still persist. The area has the highest number of cases in the county, with nearly 7,100 people testing positive for the virus. The county zip code with the second highest number of cases is neighboring 95828, which has had more than 4,900 people test positive.

As vaccinations continue to ramp up across the county, the newly created Sacramento Alliance for Vaccine Equity (SAVE) is hoping to turn the tide in South Sacramento.

“A huge percentage of my constituents — our friends and neighbors — many of them do not have access to the Internet to sign up for appointments, are not fluent in English and or are cautious to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to a long history of mistrust of government in this country,” said City Councilmember Mai Vang, whose District 8 encompasses both 95823 and 95828 zip codes.

Vang is part of the coalition of city leaders, health officials and nonprofits trying to break down language, digital and cultural barriers that are preventing people from being vaccinated.

So far, less than 38% of people living in South Sacramento’s 95823 zip code have been at least partially vaccinated, compared to more than 48% of all Sacramento County residents and 52% of Californians.

Sacramento County recently switched its focus to opening more community-based vaccination clinics. Health officials have previously been focused on large-scale sites only accessible by car — like the two at Cal Expo and McClellan Park.

Rachel Rios is the executive director of the La Familia Counseling Center, which has held vaccination clinics at its South Sacramento location for months. She said people cannot afford for officials to see this as a “one size fits all approach.”

“We learned that through this pandemic, we need to look at multiple strategies, being able to be boots on the ground, being able to go where people are,” Rios said.

3:45 p.m.: States continue to give out incentives to get residents vaccinated

Gift cards, free beer, and even a million-dollar lottery — these are just a few of the incentives some states are using to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fordham University Adjunct professor and bioethicist Elizabeth Yuko spoke with CapRadio’s Insight Host Vicki Gonzales about how these incentives are mostly intended for people who’ve put off getting inoculated.

“[Patients getting vaccinated for incentives] believe in the vaccine, they’re not opposed to it, but they just consider themselves low-enough risk where it’s not a priority for them,” Yuko said. “So that’s really the main group that these incentives are looking to target and kind of push them into like ‘now’s the time, get vaccinated, enter our lottery.’”

Ohio, New York and Maryland have all created COVID-19 vaccine lotteries. West Virginia has taken it a step further, giving a $100 savings bond to people 16 through 35 who get vaccinated. Are cash prizes not your thing? In New Jersey, you can get a free beer.

California has yet to announce a similar incentive.

3:37 p.m.: Sacramento region sees jobless rate drop

More people in the Sacramento region seem to be finding work — the jobless rate fell 6.8% in March to 6.6% in April.

California Employment Development Department Labor Market Consultant Cara Welch said when businesses were forced to shut down because of the pandemic, unemployment swelled to nearly 14.5% in April 2020, so this drop is an improvement.

“Since the pandemic, 6.6% is the lowest unemployment rate we’ve seen in the month-over-numbers,” Welch said.

Restaurants, hospitality businesses, and others are rehiring, explaining some of the reason behind the joblessness rate dropping.

“In April, leisure and hospitality was up 3,300 jobs,” Welch said. “This is the third consecutive month that we’ve seen employment gains for this industry. So since this industry has been largely affected by COVID, it’s great to see those numbers increase.”

Other sectors that added jobs from March to April include government — both state and federal — and construction, which added 19,000 jobs.

10:49 a.m.: MyTurn issues failed to capitalize on willing vaccine clinic volunteers

More than 251,000 Californians signed up on MyTurn to volunteer at vaccine clinics, but only 379 people have been able to book shifts through the state’s problem-plagued website.

As a result, the Newsom administration failed to capitalize on a potential team of, perhaps, hundreds of thousands of volunteers to help administer vaccinations.

MyTurn Volunteer is a part of California’s troubled $50-million MyTurn vaccine management system that was hastily built to distribute vaccines and give people a one-stop place to book appointments. A recent CalMatters investigation found that appointments booked on MyTurn accounted for only about 27% of doses given each day across the state.

There have been few opportunities listed on the MyTurn Volunteer site. According to a California Volunteers spokeswoman, about 600 slots — people could sign up for multiple shifts — were posted online since its March launch.

But, by May 7, only two clinics, in Stockton and Buena Park, listed volunteer opportunities. In a May 17 email to volunteers, the state highlighted four new COVID-19 vaccination volunteer opportunities, but only one could be booked through MyTurn Volunteer.

9:46 a.m.: CDC says fully vaccinated people can skip COVID-19 tests

U.S. health officials say that most fully vaccinated Americans can skip COVID-19 testing, even if they were exposed to someone infected, according to the Associated Press.

That new guidance was announced last week but was all but eclipsed by the new, more relaxed guidelines on masks. Experts say the waning importance of testing reflects a new phase of the pandemic — people who are fully vaccinated face little risk of developing severe illness or passing the infection onto others.

Experts now say that aggressively testing vaccinated people can lead to unnecessary worry and disruption at work and school.

2:25 p.m.: Nevada health officials say they may not reach the state's vaccination goal

Nevada health officials amidst the state's goal of vaccinating 75% of the eligible population may not be realistic, according to the Associated Press.

However, they say progress towards that goal is continuing to pay dividends, with the average number of new cases being reported statewide dropping to its lowest level since June 2020. The state's positivity rate also fell to 4.8% on Wednesday.

Officials say that's higher than an all-time low of 4.2% reached March 28, but down from 5.7% on April 21, and far below the peak high of 21.3% in mid-January. Of all Nevadans age 12 and older, 45% have had their first shot, and 37% are now fully vaccinated.

10:10 a.m.: California delays easing virus rules for workers

California regulators are still aiming for a mid-June easing of workplace masking and social distancing requirements to conform with a broader state order, according to the Associated Press.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board postponed a planned decision Thursday in the wake of the CDC’s guidance about-face coverings. Its current rules would have required vaccinated workers to wait until July 31 before they can stop wearing face masks indoors unless everyone in the room is fully vaccinated.

Business groups want the workplace regulator to make its changes start June 15, saying the later date will cause confusion.

But Cal/OSHA board members said they’re inclined to temporarily retain revised workplace safety rules perhaps past July 31, over the objections of some business groups. They set a June 3 hearing to consider revised rules.

However, big business owners say that requiring employers to provide masks and make other provisions like installing partitions and air filters “adds more burdensome obligations to employers …” More than 40 business groups — including organizations representing California cities, counties, retailers and restaurateurs — said in a comment letter.

Employers also told the board that improvement in infection rates makes making rules less necessary, while worker advocates said having half the population unvaccinated means precautions are still needed.

“Every day, we hear from workers about their fear of going to work, getting the virus and bringing it home to their families,” said Eddie Sanchez of the Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, which advocates particularly for workers who are immigrants or people of color. “We know from experience now that employers will not do what’s right or what’s safe on their own.”

Maggie Robbins, an occupational health specialist with Worksafe Inc., an Oakland-based worker advocacy group, said Cal/OSHA shouldn’t ease workplace rules just because the state is relaxing requirements in social settings, a development she said could “lead to basically open season in the workplace for all controls to be relaxed.”

9:39 a.m.: You may soon be able swipe right (or left) on dating profiles with vaccinated badges

The White House is pushing a new reason to swipe right: Dating apps are starting to offer vaccination badges and “super swipes” for people who’ve gotten their coronavirus shots.

According to the Associated Press, this idea is a part of the administration’s push to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. The White House says apps like Hinge, Tinder, Match and Bumble are offering special incentives to people who roll up their sleeves for shots.

These include badges showing vaccination status and free access to premium content. The administration is stepping up its efforts to sustain demand for COVID-19 shots to help meet its goal of delivering at least one dose to 70% of adult Americans by July 4.

9:20 a.m.: Pfizer-BioNTech pledges 2 billion doses to lower-income countries over two years

American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German company BioNTech have pledged to deliver 2 billion doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to middle- and low-income countries over the next 18 months.

According to the Associated Press, the companies made the announcement Friday at a global health summit in Rome, co-hosted by the European Union’s executive arm and Italy. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said they expect to provide a billion doses this year and another in 2022.

It was unclear whether the delivery would occur through the U.N.-backed COVAX program, which aims to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 shots for low- and middle-income countries, or if countries would get the doses at a reduced price directly from the companies.

6:11 p.m.: As California’s reopening date approaches, Sacramento County adjusts vaccination plans

For the first time since October, Sacramento County saw its COVID-19 case rate drop below 6 new cases per 100,000 residents — the threshold needed to get out of the more restrictive red tier of the state’s reopening plan. 

Despite that milestone, Sacramento is stuck in the tier until at least June. To move to the less-strict orange tier, it must keep its lower case rate for two consecutive weeks. 

Those tiers won’t matter come June 15, which is when Gov. Gavin Newsom said California will officially reopen its economy.

But Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County’s public health officer, said there’s still concern that the county could regress if current trends don’t continue.

“I think at this point, our main message is the vaccination, because that is our way of being able to get past this pandemic and get people back to their normal regular lives,” Kasirye said.

That’s been easier said than done, as Sacramento continues to struggle getting people vaccinated. More than 500,000 people in the county are fully vaccinated, but the number of new people getting the shot decreases every day.

While hesitancy plays a part, public health officials have said the bigger issue is their approach to vaccination clinics. 

The county had been mostly focused on large-scale sites only accessible by car — like the two at Cal Expo and McClellan Park. But in recent weeks, the county has switched to opening more community clinics.

“We know that that's what it's going to take,” Kasirye said. “Especially when we're going into some of the underserved neighborhoods and building that trust and reducing barriers as well.”

The county is now letting businesses and places of worship apply to operate pop-up clinics. To sign your business up, click here. For congregations, click here.

3:45 p.m.: Sacramento County announces new Health Services Director

Sacramento County has tapped a new leader to tackle the latest chapter of the pandemic — Chevon Kothari.

Kothari is sliding into the Health Services Director position, which has been vacant since December due to Dr. Peter Beilenson's resignation. Previously Kothari was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as the chief deputy director of the California Department of Social Services in June 2020.

"[...] We have to continue to maintain a lot of vigilance when it comes to COVID," Kothari said. "Although we are approaching June 15 … we're going to have to maintain that vigilance and ensure that we're doing those things necessary to keep the pandemic at bay and keep your most vulnerable populations safe."

A recent CapRadio and Valley Vision poll about the Sacramento region found that 40% of respondents who had not yet been vaccinated said they would "probably not" or would "definitely not" get the vaccine. Kothari says the California Department of Public Health has been working on vaccine hesitancy, but it's not a simple issue to fix.

"How do you engage communities that are vaccine-hesitant? There are a spectrum of different issues and reasons why people aren't choosing [to get vaccinated], and so there's not a one size fits all approach to how you really address it," Kothari said. "It's not all about just increasing knowledge or education or awareness. It also has to do with building trust and engagement."

With the state's reopening date less than a month away, Kothari says the state will be making "really significant one-time investments" into public health and infrastructure. She's hoping that the county can see some ongoing sustainable funding for these health programs.

"What we've learned from the pandemic is our ability to strengthen our systems in what I'll call the 'in-between times.' [It] really predicts our ability to pivot and react quickly when we have a major crisis … when we do have another pandemic," Kothari said. "Hopefully, we won't see that in our lifetime, but our ability to invest now is really important to ensuring that we can keep people safe going forward."

To listen to the whole interview, click here.

11:18 a.m.: When do I need to wear a mask? Depends on your vaccination status after June 15.

Whether you still need to wear a mask depends mostly on whether or not you’re vaccinated. In California, masks are required regardless of vaccination status until at least June 15. After the state lifts its restrictions, then California’s mask guidelines will closely match the federal government's guidance.

According to the Associated Press, the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you no longer need to wear a mask in most cases if you’re fully vaccinated. Meaning when you’re outside or in many indoor spaces like restaurants, hair salons, and grocery stores, if you’re fully vaccinated, you can leave the mask in your pocket.

However, unvaccinated people are still advised to wear masks indoors and in certain outdoor settings. That includes children under 12 who aren’t yet eligible for the vaccines. Everyone still needs to follow local and business rules, regardless of their vaccination status.

U.S. residents will also still need a mask when traveling, including in buses, subways, trains, planes, and airports. For those traveling internationally, the guidance on masks will differ by country.

Some experts say the CDC is relaxing its recommendations too soon. Part of the concern is that there’s no way to tell who’s vaccinated, so unvaccinated people could claim they got their shots and go maskless, says David Holtgrave, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Albany.

And this could cause cases to rise.

“A central mistake in public health is easing up infectious disease control efforts just before crossing the finish line,” he said.

10:25 a.m.: Vaccination rates starkly different by region in US

A distinct geographic pattern has emerged in the U.S. drive to vanquish the coronavirus: The highest vaccination rates are concentrated in the Northeast while the lowest ones are mainly in the South.

According to the Associated Press, experts say the gap reflects a multitude of factors, including political leanings, religious beliefs, and education and income levels. Close to 160 million Americans — 48% of the population — have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 125 million are fully vaccinated.

Vermont is No. 1, with nearly 64% of its population having received at least one dose, and Mississippi is dead last at 32%.

“Low vaccination rates will leave room for the virus to circulate, re-emerge and possibly form new variants,” said Tara Kirk Sell, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “High vaccination rates are critical to keeping the disease under control, especially when we get back to the fall and winter.”

3:53 p.m.: California median home prices now over $800,000

California home prices continue to skyrocket and break records. The California Association of Realtors recently released its median sales price data, and the numbers seem to keep rising.

“The month of March set a record of $760,000, but in April, it actually surpassed that number as well,” said Oscar Wei, deputy chief economist with the CAR. “We have a new record high of $813,980.”

That price is a 34% increase from April of last year. He says prices are rising because of a shortage of homes. April home sales were also up 2.5% from March.

Things may change, however, in the coming months as vaccination rates increase and the state reopens.

“I think we are going to see a little bit more supply, but maybe not as much as we would hope for in order to slow down the price growth, but we’ll see how that goes,” Wei said.

3:35 p.m.: Large vaccine disinformation channel removed from YouTube

A major seller of online COVID-19 and vaccine disinformation has had one of its channels removed from YouTube, days after an investigation by The Associated Press detailed how they work with other spreaders of false information to make money.

“The Truth About Vaccines” YouTube channel was taken down this week, according to a post on the messaging app Telegram by site owners Ty and Charlene Bollinger. However, another site that led to vaccine disinformation remained active.

The Bollingers operate “The Truth About Cancer,” another YouTube channel with more than 166,000 subscribers. Anyone who goes on that channel and searches “vaccines” will still find videos that sow distrust and fear about vaccines or push COVID-19 disinformation. At least one video includes debunked falsehoods about the presidential election

Nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate applauded YouTube’s move to take the disinformation channel down but said just removing one channel is insufficient.

10:30 a.m.: Nevada GOP candidate tests positive for COVID-19

Republican candidate for governor John Lee has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Associated Press.

The North Las Vegas mayor announced his positive test result in a Facebook post on Monday evening. He had just announced his campaign for Nevada governor earlier in the day.

The 65-year-old Lee said in a statement that he learned Monday afternoon that he came in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and then quickly got tested himself.

The mayor says he has no symptoms but will quarantine. Lee said he had not yet gotten the COVID-19 vaccine. His campaign also declined to answer why he didn't get vaccinated yet.

10:12 p.m.: Biden to expand legal services after pandemic 'exacerbated inequities'

President Joe Biden plans to take executive action to ensure minorities, low-income Americans, and others have better access to quality legal representation after services dwindled during the Trump administration.

According to the Associated Press, Biden is set to sign a memo on Tuesday to direct the Department of Justice to expand access to justice and reestablish a White House roundtable on improving legal aid.

The plans are laid out in a presidential memo first shared with the Associated Press. Biden’s memo says the coronavirus pandemic “exacerbated inequities” in legal services, and those problems have significantly affected low-income people and people of color.

9:44 a.m.: For many workers, after the pandemic is no return to 'normal'

Many workers emerging from the pandemic don’t want to return to the jobs they once had, according to the Associated Press.

Layoffs and lockdowns combined with enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks gave many Americans the time and the financial cushion to rethink their careers. Some employers and business groups are calling for an end to the $300-per-week federal unemployment supplement, claiming it’s giving recipients less incentive to look for work.

But Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist who researches low- and middle-income workers with the Economic Policy Institute, says the supplement is not the reason why many aren’t going back to work — it’s health concerns and child care responsibilities.

In April, she said, at least 25% of U.S. schools weren’t offering in-person learning, forcing many parents to stay home. Health concerns could also become more urgent for some workers now that the CDC has said fully vaccinated people can stop masking in most settings.

“We want people well-matched to their skills and experience,” she said. “That’s what helps the economy run better.”

3:49 p.m.: California to keep mask rules until June 15 

California will keep its existing mask requirements in place for another month, state health officials announced Monday.

While other states move to loosen or discard mask rules after the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear face coverings, the Golden State will stay its course until June 15, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a media call.

“This four-week period will give Californians time to prepare for this change” while it continues to vaccinate as many residents as possible, he said.

The delay in mask lifting is “in no way saying the science of the direction by the CDC is wrong or there’s a challenge to it,” Ghaly said. “It’s really just giving ourselves across the state some additional time to have it implemented.”

More than 15.5 million Californians have been fully vaccinated, which is roughly half of the residents eligible for the shot. That’s about 39% of the state’s total population, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Another 4.7 million people are partially vaccinated.

The state is still on track to drop its color-tier system and many of the pandemic restrictions that come with it on June 15, Ghaly said.

3:45 p.m.: Burning Man cancellation causes fallout in northern Nevada

The cancellation of Burning Man for the second year is drawing mixed reactions in northern Nevada, according to the Associated Press.

Some businesses and tourism officials say they'll miss the economic boost from festival-goers, but health officials are glad they won't contribute to increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19.

The counter-culture festival in the desert north of Reno typically attracts nearly 80,000 people who spend an estimated $63 million in Nevada.

Officials at Reno Tahoe International Airport are among those hoping the event would return after last year's cancellation due to the pandemic. Health officials' concerns were based partly on the fact that the event attracts people worldwide.

3:15 p.m.: School districts vary wildly on testing students, staff

While children are having their noses swabbed or saliva sampled at school to test for the coronavirus in some parts of the county, else where school districts are reluctant to even check students showing signs of illness for COVID-19.

According to the Associated Press, education and health officials around the country have taken very different approaches to testing students and staff members — with many not testing them at all.

Officials in districts that have embraced testing say it’s a tool for making sure infections stay under control, but many school administrators see more hassle than benefit. Some states have even turned down millions in federal funding for school-based virus testing.

University of California, San Francisco Professor of Medicine Dr. Monica Gandhi says the nation’s vaccination program makes the COVID-19 tests less useful because immunized individuals are so much less likely to get infected.

At the same time, she explains that false positives in school settings carry significant consequences when they cause a return to online learning.

Screening tests have played a key role in reopening plans for school in New York City and other more liberal states like California and Massachusetts.

10:50 a.m.: Biden commits to sharing 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide

President Joe Biden says the U.S. will share an additional 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with the world in the coming six weeks, raising the U.S.’s total commitment to 80 million doses, according to the Associated Press.

The move comes as domestic demand for shots drops and global disparities in distribution have grown more evident.

On Monday, Biden said that “we know America will never be fully safe until the pandemic that’s raging globally is under control.”

The doses will come from existing U.S. production of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine stocks. The administration previously committed to sharing about 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of June.

4:33 p.m.: California reviewing CDC mask mandate update

Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office is weighing issues of enforcement and workplace safety in considering whether and when to adopt the new CDC guidelines on masking, according to the Associated Press.

While the state is planning to relax outdoor mask mandates by June 15 when the state opens up, Newsom isn’t quite sure how far to go. Yesterday’s announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls for fully vaccinated people to stop wearing masks and social distancing in most situations if they want.

For now, Newsom said he doesn’t know how that would play out in classrooms and at workplaces. California is on track to reopen its economy broadly next month, signaling an end to most pandemic restrictions.

UC Berkeley Infectious Disease Professor Dr. Lee Riley the new CDC recommendations are a good sign.

“I think this is an indication of further confidence on the part of the CDC that the vaccination program is really working,” said Riley. “Close to, what, half the population in the U.S. has now received at least one dose of the vaccine.”

He adds that people should still consider wearing masks in confined spaces with minimal ventilation.

San Francisco, San Diego, and Riverside are among the counties saying they expect updated guidance from the state.

10:39 a.m.: Farm-to-Fork week will return later this year

One of Sacramento’s signature events is now scheduled to return later this year after getting canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farm-to-Fork President and CEO Mike Testa says the events are a big deal because they celebrate the region and bring in more than 100,000 visitors.

“To be able to kind of put that party back on the calendar, to be able to look at an event that is not only outdoor food and music, and kind of the fun stuff that we all enjoy about a festival, I think offers that hope that there’s joy again around the corner for us,” Testa said.

The group began planning the events in January hoping that the pandemic would be under control by the fall, and he says the current outlook seems to be very encouraging.

10:20 a.m.: Tehama County vaccination demand is dropping

Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine is diminishing in rural Tehama County, even though only 26% of the population is fully vaccinated.

Michelle Schmidt is a supervising public health nurse of the Tehama County Health Services Agency, and she said there’s a few reasons why demand is dipping. Access is one barrier for people looking to get vaccinated.

Another is the refocusing of efforts on those living in outlying communities away from vaccine locations in the city of Red Bluff.

“It’s difficult for them to try to get down — potentially two different times — just to come get a COVID shot,” Schmidt said. “And so, we’re in the process of really transitioning, kind of moving out of the community center and moving towards having more of a mobile format to trying to get vaccinations out within our community.”

More vaccinations could mean getting closer to herd immunity, or the point at which enough people are immune to disease to stop its spread. However, Schmidt is skeptical that mark can be met through vaccination.

“Reaching herd immunity is not only dependent upon access, it’s also dependent on people’s willingness to receive the vaccination. And because of that, I’m not sure that we will ever get to the 70% rate to get herd immunity,” she said.

For now, educating the public on the benefits of COVID vaccination and providing opportunities closer to home are the priorities, according to Schmidt.

3:55 p.m.: California opens Pfizer vaccinations for those age 12 years and older

California parents and guardians can now schedule appointments for children aged 12 and up to receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine by using the statewide MyTurn booking system starting today.

“The more Californians who are able to get vaccinated, the better we can protect our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Having vaccines expanded to teenagers is the next step in California’s path to safely reopening next month.”

The expanded eligibility comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amended the Emergency Use Authorization to allow vaccination for 12- to 15-year olds after tests revealed non-serious side effects like fatigue and headache.

“Young people have shouldered a significant burden during this pandemic,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “We look forward to now providing protection for this group to return to activities, especially as we look forward to the state fully reopening on June 15.”

Opening up the inoculation for younger people means there are now about 2.1 million Californians who are eligible for this age group. California’s vaccine provider network can administer about 6.6 million doses a week overall.

“It’s important to remember that young people need protection against the severity and ongoing threat of COVID-19,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan. “California has more than 500 cases of serious health outcomes among young people resulting from the virus, and cases are increasing among younger Americans and Californians who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated.”

3:46 p.m.: Nevada vaccine information website is full of trackers

The Nevada website the public uses to get information on coronavirus vaccines is packed with more ad trackers and third-party cookies than any state vaccination website in the country, according to the Associated Press.

An investigation by technology publication The Markup found Immunize Nevada's website implants third-party cookies and trackers that can potentially be used to track how visitors navigate the internet, collect data on them and sell it for any number of purposes.

The state says most trackers are used to optimize user experience and evaluate their outreach efforts. Privacy experts say the number of trackers on Nevada's site compared to other states goes beyond data-gathering applicable to outreach.

3:35 p.m.: Nurses, nonprofits, health workers reach out to homebound people for vaccinations

As interest dwindles in mass coronavirus vaccination sites across the U.S., local health officials and other providers are ramping up efforts to find and reach homebound people who can’t travel for a shot.

According to The Associated Press, while the effort is happening in many states, experts say California has one of the most robust at-home vaccination programs. Last week, state officials announced residents could go online or call a number to request a ride or an at-home vaccination appointment.

So far, there have been more than 5,000 requests for help in the state, according to California public health spokesperson Sami Gallegos.

National advocates for seniors and people with disabilities say there should be more robust plans to inoculate the millions of people in those groups.

11:39 a.m.: California to relax face masks rules by June 15

Gov. Gavin Newsom says California will likely relax face mask requirements in outdoor settings on June 15, when many business restrictions are set to be lifted.

Until then, indoor mask requirements are still active.

“For indoor activities, we will still have likely some mask guidelines and mandates,” Newsom said. “But we hope, sooner than later, that those will be lifted as well.”

The nation’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, says federal mask guidance may ease as more people are vaccinated. Newsom says California will continue to conform its mask rules with federal guidelines.

10:42 a.m.: When will COVID-19 vaccines be widely available around the world? Two years, at the earliest.

Experts say it could be 2023 or later before COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in some countries, according to the Associated Press. 

The U.S. and Israel are among the nations where about half or more of the population have gotten at least one shot, but less than 1% of people have been vaccinated in countries such as Pakistan and Venezuela.

The differences reflect factors including purchasing power and domestic production capacity. COVAX, a coalition working to ensure global vaccine access is behind schedule due partly to export bans and stockpiling by some countries.

One Georgetown University policy expert says the U.S., E.U., and other wealthy nations had already pre-ordered nearly all of the vaccine doses from several companies, causing the stock to dwindle so much that even other countries with money to buy vaccines are at the back of the line waiting their turn.

China and Russia are among those committed to donating vaccines to other nations, while countries like the U.S. and U.K. aren’t yet sharing their stockpiles, though they’re committed to doing so.

In April, Duke University researchers said many countries would not reach 60% coverage until 2023 or later, meaning global scarcity is expected to continue for years to come.

9:07 a.m.: The vaccine disinformation merchants: how some are cashing out on spreading false claims

Ty and Charlene Bollinger are part of an ecosystem of for-profit companies, nonprofit groups, YouTube channels and other social media accounts that stoke fear and distrust of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Medical experts say the Bollingers are resorting to what is often misleading and false information. An investigation by The Associated Press has found that the couple works closely with others prominent in the anti-vaccine movement — including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Children's Health Defense — to drive sales through affiliate marketing relationships.

University of California, Hastings College of Law professor Droit Reiss explains that unlike other multi-level marketing businesses, where products are sold through low-level sellers, the anti-vaccination industry is sustained by grassroots activists.

"This is a disinformation industry," Reiss said.

The Bollingers have said that they have sold tens of millions of dollars worth of products through various ventures and paid out $12 million to affiliates.

"They have many, many passionate believers that serve as sales people of the misinformation on the ground," Reiss said. "For the top, it's a product. For the people below, they passionately believe it. They're very sincere. And it comes across."

4:33 p.m.: California reviewing CDC mask mandate update

Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office is weighing issues of enforcement and workplace safety in considering whether and when to adopt the new CDC guidelines on masking, according to the Associated Press.

While the state is planning to relax outdoor mask mandates by June 15 when the state opens up, Newsom isn’t quite sure how far to go. Yesterday’s announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls for fully vaccinated people to stop wearing masks and social distancing in most situations if they want.

For now, Newsom said he doesn’t know how that would play out in classrooms and at workplaces. California is on track to reopen its economy broadly next month, signaling an end to most pandemic restrictions.

UC Berkeley Infectious Disease Professor Dr. Lee Riley the new CDC recommendations are a good sign.

“I think this is an indication of further confidence on the part of the CDC that the vaccination program is really working,” said Riley. “Close to, what, half the population in the U.S. has now received at least one dose of the vaccine.”

He adds that people should still consider wearing masks in confined spaces with minimal ventilation.

San Francisco, San Diego, and Riverside are among the counties saying they expect updated guidance from the state.

10:24 a.m.: Most remaining unvaccinated Americans need convincing to get COVID-19 inoculations, according to poll

Fewer Americans are reluctant to get a COVID-19 vaccine than just a few months ago, but questions about side effects and how the shots were tested still hold some people back.

That’s according to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The new data highlights the challenges at a pivotal moment in the U.S. vaccination campaign. Just 11% of people who remain unvaccinated say they definitely will get the shot, while 34% say they definitely won’t.

Getting as many people vaccinated as fast as possible is critical to protecting citizens. More than 150 million people — about 58% of all adults — have received at least one dose, according to the centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to a poll by CapRadio and Valley Vision, about 40% of people in the Greater Sacramento region say they won’t be getting vaccinated.

There’s a glimmer of hope, though. As that number grows, the reluctance is inching down. Overall, the AP-NORC poll found about 1 in 5 American adults say they probably or definitely won’t get vaccinated, compared to about a third in January, when the shots were just rolling out.

This leaves a large swath of Americans in the middle who might still roll up their sleeves, or maybe not.

10:03 a.m.: US job openings soar to highest level on record in over 20 years

U.S. employers posted a record number of available jobs in March, illustrating some industries' desperation to find new workers as the economy expands and changes, according to the Associated Press.

Job postings rose in many industries, including restaurants, bars and hotels; manufacturing, construction and retail. However, they fell in health care, transportation and warehousing.

While job openings skyrocketed, the total job gains increased only modestly, according to a Labor Department report issued on Tuesday. The figures come after the April jobs report last week that fell far short of economist expectations, largely because companies appear unable to find the workers they need, despite the elevated unemployment rate at 6.1%.

Job openings rose nearly 8%, to 8.1 million in March, the most on records dating back to December 2000.

5:42 p.m.: Millions of Californians may see a state stimulus check this year

Millions of California workers and families may get another stimulus check this year — but this one is from the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed an expansion of his “Golden State Stimulus” plan on Monday. The program put $600 checks in the pockets of low-wage workers and undocumented families earlier this year. 

Now, with a record budget surplus, Newsom wants to send stimulus checks to families with children and workers who earn up to $75,000 a year. 

“That tax rebate will impact just shy of 80% of all tax filers — will get a direct stimulus check, will get a direct relief payment because of this announcement,” Newsom said.

The governor also wants to double the state’s rental assistance program and put up $2 billion to help people pay utility bills. 

The spending proposal requires legislative approval.

3:31 p.m.: Medicare to require nursing homes to report COVID-19 vaccinations

Medicare says it will require nursing homes to report COVID-19 vaccination rates for residents and staff, according to the Associated Press.

Officials hope it will be an incentive for facilities to keep giving shots even as the worst ravages of the pandemic ease. The agency expects to start receiving vaccination numbers from nursing homes in the coming weeks and plans to post the information on the internet so residents and families can easily access the details.

People living in long-term care facilities have borne a heavy toll from the pandemic, but cases and deaths plummeted after the government launched a concerted effort to vaccinate residents and staff.

3:14 p.m.: FDA expands emergency use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids 12 to 15 years old

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that children 12 to 15 years old are now eligible to receive a key COVID-19 vaccine as the agency expands its emergency use authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Until now, the Pfizer vaccine had been authorized for only people ages 16 and older. Pfizer asked the FDA to broaden its emergency use authorization for the vaccine after announcing in late March that the clinical trials found “100% efficacy and robust antibody responses” in study participants who were 12 to 15.

The pharmaceutical giant got federal approval to include children as young as 12 in its vaccine trial in October of last year.

All three makers of U.S.-authorized vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson — are studying the safety and effectiveness of their vaccines in children, including as young as 6 months.

10:50 a.m.: PolitiFact Fact-Check: The death rate for vaccinated people is not higher than unvaccinated people

A screenshot of a tweet by Chuck Callesto, a former candidate for Florida’s 3rd congressional district, was shared more than 42,000 times on Instagram, falsely claiming that the death rate for fully vaccinated people who contact COVID-19 is “significantly higher” compared to unvaccinated people. That’s false, according to a PolitiFact California fact-check.

The tweet reads, “Breaking report: according to the CDC 7,157 fully vaccinated Americans have contracted COVID-19, 88 have died.” It appears the incorrect and misleading tweet has been deleted from Callesto’s Twitter.

Public health experts agree that Callesto most likely miscalculated the death rate among fully vaccinated adults. Furthermore, experts say it’s flawed and misleading to use these figures to calculate a death rate and compare it to the unvaccinated population.  

As of May 4, more than 105 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the CDC. Around that same time, the public health office received 9,245 reports of vaccine breakthrough infections. That’s less than .01% of fully vaccinated Americans.

Also, vaccine breakthrough cases are expected. None of the vaccines were 100% effective in the original clinical trials, nor have they ever claimed to be. No vaccine is 100% effective at preventing illness, according to public health experts and the CDC.

While there have been more than 7,000 cases where vaccinated people contacted COVID-19, resulting in 132 deaths, it is still widely misleading to use these numbers as evidence that vaccines are dangerous and ineffective, especially as the post leaves out crucial facts about breakthrough infections.

6:32 p.m.: Sacramento County ‘hopeful’ about moving to orange tier in June, officials say

Sacramento is one of just a dozen California counties remaining in the red, or second-most restrictive, COVID-19 reopening tier. Health officials said Thursday that they’re hopeful the county can move up to the orange tier by June 15, the same day California is set to reopen and end the tier system.

Less restrictive tiers allow more businesses to open at greater capacity. But in Sacramento the case rate is still a concern — 7.5 cases per 100,000 people, as compared to 4.2 cases per 100,000 people statewide. To move to the orange tier, Sacramento County must bring its case rate down to somewhere between 2 and 6 cases per 100,000 people.

Dr. Olivia Kasirye, public health officer for Sacramento County, says new, more infectious variants “could be contributing to the stagnation in cases.”

She also says people are not getting tested for COVID-19 as often as they used to, which affects tier status.

Officials also said there are no Sacramento ZIP codes that are close to reaching herd immunity, or having about 70% of residents immunized. In certain north and south Sacramento neighborhoods, less than 20% of people have been fully vaccinated.

6:52 p.m.: California State Fair postponed, Cal Expo to remain vaccination site

Cal Expo officials said Wednesday it'll remain a mass vaccination site through the summer with the hope of allowing events to open with larger capacity later this year.

"The more people we can get vaccinated the more the event business can come back," Cal Expo CEO Rick Pickering said. He said this year’s state fair will be delayed and likely slimmed down.

Since March 2020, health officials at the site have vaccinated a quarter-million people.

“That would be the equivalent of half of the population of Sacramento or 16% of the county of Sacramento,” Pickering said.

While demand for the vaccine is dropping across the country, Pickering said there is more work to be done as the county’s focus shifts to inoculating school-age children.

9:29 a.m.: From 3 feet of distance to 6 feet: How the pandemic might have affected our personal space bubbles

Face-to-face meetings are creeping back into our lives after more than a year of social-distancing. A steep decline in coronavirus transmission rates plus an increasing number of vaccinations are just two of the biggest reasons why.

But how comfortable will you or others be with this shift back to in-person social interaction?

Researchers say that the personal-space boundary in the U.S. before the pandemic was about 3 feet with strangers and a little more than 2 feet with an acquaintance. But now, a year of staying 6 feet apart could have you feeling crowded — even if others are maintaining what used to be considered an acceptable distance.

CapRadio’s Randol White spoke with Cal State Northridge Communications Studies Professor Kathryn Sorrells to see how the pandemic may have changed what we consider comfortable.

“I know a number of people I’ve talked to, even as we open up,” Sorrells said. “There’s a little hesitancy, like ‘Do I remember how to engage with people in that way?’ I think that probably if it’s a year or a year and half … we’ll shift back into the old patterns because those are much more deeply ingrained.”

9:14 a.m.: Can COVID-19 affect my period? Scientists are looking into it.

It’s not yet known if COVID-19 vaccines can affect your period, but researchers are starting to study the issue.

According to the Associated Press, vaccines are designed to activate your immune system, and some experts wonder if that could temporarily disrupt menstrual cycles. So far, reports of irregular bleeding have been anecdotal. It’s difficult to draw any links to the vaccines since anything from stress, diet and exercise could affect periods.

There’s also a lack of data tracking changes to menstrual cycles after vaccinations in general.

Dr. Jen Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist in the San Francisco Bay area, says a link is possible since the uterine lining, which is shed during a period, contains immune cells that help protect the uterus.

Even if scientists do eventually find a link between the COVID-19 vaccines and short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that would be no reason to avoid getting inoculated.

“The benefits of taking the vaccine certainly way outweigh putting up with one heavy period, if indeed they’re related,” said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a gynecologist and professor at the Yale University School of Medicine.

9:08 a.m.: US unemployment claims call to pandemic low of 498,000

The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 498,000, according to the Associated Press.

It’s at the lowest point since the pandemic struck 14 months ago and a sign of the job market’s growing strength as businesses reopen and consumers step up spending.

Applications declined 92,000 from a revised 590,000 a week earlier. The number of weekly jobless claims — a rough measure of the pace of layoffs — has declined significantly from a peak of 900,000 in January as employers have ramped up hiring.

However, the pace of applications is still well above the roughly 230,000 level that was common before the COVID-19 outbreak ran through the economy in March of last year.

10:39 a.m.: Farm-to-Fork week will return later this year

One of Sacramento’s signature events is now scheduled to return later this year after getting canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farm-to-Fork President and CEO Mike Testa says the events are a big deal because they celebrate the region and bring in more than 100,000 visitors.

“To be able to kind of put that party back on the calendar, to be able to look at an event that is not only outdoor food and music, and kind of the fun stuff that we all enjoy about a festival, I think offers that hope that there’s joy again around the corner for us,” Testa said.

The group began planning the events in January hoping that the pandemic would be under control by the fall, and he says the current outlook seems to be very encouraging.

10:20 a.m.: Tehama County vaccination demand is dropping

Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine is diminishing in rural Tehama County, even though only 26% of the population is fully vaccinated.

Michelle Schmidt is a supervising public health nurse of the Tehama County Health Services Agency, and she said there’s a few reasons why demand is dipping. Access is one barrier for people looking to get vaccinated.

Another is the refocusing of efforts on those living in outlying communities away from vaccine locations in the city of Red Bluff.

“It’s difficult for them to try to get down — potentially two different times — just to come get a COVID shot,” Schmidt said. “And so, we’re in the process of really transitioning, kind of moving out of the community center and moving towards having more of a mobile format to trying to get vaccinations out within our community.”

More vaccinations could mean getting closer to herd immunity, or the point at which enough people are immune to disease to stop its spread. However, Schmidt is skeptical that mark can be met through vaccination.

“Reaching herd immunity is not only dependent upon access, it’s also dependent on people’s willingness to receive the vaccination. And because of that, I’m not sure that we will ever get to the 70% rate to get herd immunity,” she said.

For now, educating the public on the benefits of COVID vaccination and providing opportunities closer to home are the priorities, according to Schmidt.

3:55 p.m.: California opens Pfizer vaccinations for those age 12 years and older

California parents and guardians can now schedule appointments for children aged 12 and up to receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine by using the statewide MyTurn booking system starting today.

“The more Californians who are able to get vaccinated, the better we can protect our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Having vaccines expanded to teenagers is the next step in California’s path to safely reopening next month.”

The expanded eligibility comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amended the Emergency Use Authorization to allow vaccination for 12- to 15-year olds after tests revealed non-serious side effects like fatigue and headache.

“Young people have shouldered a significant burden during this pandemic,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “We look forward to now providing protection for this group to return to activities, especially as we look forward to the state fully reopening on June 15.”

Opening up the inoculation for younger people means there are now about 2.1 million Californians who are eligible for this age group. California’s vaccine provider network can administer about 6.6 million doses a week overall.

“It’s important to remember that young people need protection against the severity and ongoing threat of COVID-19,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan. “California has more than 500 cases of serious health outcomes among young people resulting from the virus, and cases are increasing among younger Americans and Californians who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated.”

5:32 p.m.: US backs waiving COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property protections

The Biden administration is throwing its support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines to speed up to the end of the pandemic.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the government's position in a Wednesday statement amid World Trade Organizations talks over easing global trade rules. This would enable more countries to produce more life-saving vaccines.

Tai says, "The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines."

She cautions that it will take time to reach the required global "consensus" to waive the protections under WTO rules.

6:30 p.m.: All Nevada counties granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions

All of Nevada's 17 counties have been granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest addition came yesterday when Washoe County commissioners approved a revised plan for the Reno-Sparks area and successfully submitted the necessary endorsements to the state's mitigation task force.

Masks remain mandatory. Control over all other COVID-19 measures began May 1 in all of Nevada's other counties under local plans.

Washoe County's new plan eliminates capacity limits effective June 1, unless there's a big spike in the new cases. In the meantime it allows full capacity in businesses with enough space to still comply with six-feet social-distancing.

9:25 a.m.: Pandemic led to 30% increase in worker deaths in certain California industries

During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, California saw a 30% increase in the deaths of essential workers in 10 industries, according to a new study by U.C. Merced’s Community and Labor Center.

The U.C. study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020. Workers accounted for 87% — or more than 14,000 — of those additional deaths.

Dr. Edward Flores, who helped direct the study, said that the pandemic just exposed previously existing inequalities in the workplace.

“There’s a need for better awareness for the rights that workers have, of their ability to take sick leave, to file a complaint in regards to health and safety conditions,” said Flores.

The most affected groups of workers came from industries such as warehouses, agriculture, restaurants and food services, and grocery stores. Among the 10 industries with the highest death increases were nursing care, landscaping, and building services like janitorial and security work.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

6:30 p.m.: All Nevada counties granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions

All of Nevada's 17 counties have been granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest addition came yesterday when Washoe County commissioners approved a revised plan for the Reno-Sparks area and successfully submitted the necessary endorsements to the state's mitigation task force.

Masks remain mandatory. Control over all other COVID-19 measures began May 1 in all of Nevada's other counties under local plans.

Washoe County's new plan eliminates capacity limits effective June 1, unless there's a big spike in the new cases. In the meantime it allows full capacity in businesses with enough space to still comply with six-feet social-distancing.

9:25 a.m.: Pandemic led to 30% increase in worker deaths in certain California industries

During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, California saw a 30% increase in the deaths of essential workers in 10 industries, according to a new study by U.C. Merced’s Community and Labor Center.

The U.C. study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020. Workers accounted for 87% — or more than 14,000 — of those additional deaths.

Dr. Edward Flores, who helped direct the study, said that the pandemic just exposed previously existing inequalities in the workplace.

“There’s a need for better awareness for the rights that workers have, of their ability to take sick leave, to file a complaint in regards to health and safety conditions,” said Flores.

The most affected groups of workers came from industries such as warehouses, agriculture, restaurants and food services, and grocery stores. Among the 10 industries with the highest death increases were nursing care, landscaping, and building services like janitorial and security work.

6:30 p.m.: All Nevada counties granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions

All of Nevada's 17 counties have been granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest addition came yesterday when Washoe County commissioners approved a revised plan for the Reno-Sparks area and successfully submitted the necessary endorsements to the state's mitigation task force.

Masks remain mandatory. Control over all other COVID-19 measures began May 1 in all of Nevada's other counties under local plans.

Washoe County's new plan eliminates capacity limits effective June 1, unless there's a big spike in the new cases. In the meantime it allows full capacity in businesses with enough space to still comply with six-feet social-distancing.

9:25 a.m.: Pandemic led to 30% increase in worker deaths in certain California industries

During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, California saw a 30% increase in the deaths of essential workers in 10 industries, according to a new study by U.C. Merced’s Community and Labor Center.

The U.C. study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020. Workers accounted for 87% — or more than 14,000 — of those additional deaths.

Dr. Edward Flores, who helped direct the study, said that the pandemic just exposed previously existing inequalities in the workplace.

“There’s a need for better awareness for the rights that workers have, of their ability to take sick leave, to file a complaint in regards to health and safety conditions,” said Flores.

The most affected groups of workers came from industries such as warehouses, agriculture, restaurants and food services, and grocery stores. Among the 10 industries with the highest death increases were nursing care, landscaping, and building services like janitorial and security work.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

6:30 p.m.: All Nevada counties granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions

All of Nevada's 17 counties have been granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest addition came yesterday when Washoe County commissioners approved a revised plan for the Reno-Sparks area and successfully submitted the necessary endorsements to the state's mitigation task force.

Masks remain mandatory. Control over all other COVID-19 measures began May 1 in all of Nevada's other counties under local plans.

Washoe County's new plan eliminates capacity limits effective June 1, unless there's a big spike in the new cases. In the meantime it allows full capacity in businesses with enough space to still comply with six-feet social-distancing.

9:25 a.m.: Pandemic led to 30% increase in worker deaths in certain California industries

During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, California saw a 30% increase in the deaths of essential workers in 10 industries, according to a new study by U.C. Merced’s Community and Labor Center.

The U.C. study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020. Workers accounted for 87% — or more than 14,000 — of those additional deaths.

Dr. Edward Flores, who helped direct the study, said that the pandemic just exposed previously existing inequalities in the workplace.

“There’s a need for better awareness for the rights that workers have, of their ability to take sick leave, to file a complaint in regards to health and safety conditions,” said Flores.

The most affected groups of workers came from industries such as warehouses, agriculture, restaurants and food services, and grocery stores. Among the 10 industries with the highest death increases were nursing care, landscaping, and building services like janitorial and security work.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

6:30 p.m.: All Nevada counties granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions

All of Nevada's 17 counties have been granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest addition came yesterday when Washoe County commissioners approved a revised plan for the Reno-Sparks area and successfully submitted the necessary endorsements to the state's mitigation task force.

Masks remain mandatory. Control over all other COVID-19 measures began May 1 in all of Nevada's other counties under local plans.

Washoe County's new plan eliminates capacity limits effective June 1, unless there's a big spike in the new cases. In the meantime it allows full capacity in businesses with enough space to still comply with six-feet social-distancing.

9:25 a.m.: Pandemic led to 30% increase in worker deaths in certain California industries

During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, California saw a 30% increase in the deaths of essential workers in 10 industries, according to a new study by U.C. Merced’s Community and Labor Center.

The U.C. study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020. Workers accounted for 87% — or more than 14,000 — of those additional deaths.

Dr. Edward Flores, who helped direct the study, said that the pandemic just exposed previously existing inequalities in the workplace.

“There’s a need for better awareness for the rights that workers have, of their ability to take sick leave, to file a complaint in regards to health and safety conditions,” said Flores.

The most affected groups of workers came from industries such as warehouses, agriculture, restaurants and food services, and grocery stores. Among the 10 industries with the highest death increases were nursing care, landscaping, and building services like janitorial and security work.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

6:30 p.m.: All Nevada counties granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions

All of Nevada's 17 counties have been granted local authority over COVID-19 restrictions.

The latest addition came yesterday when Washoe County commissioners approved a revised plan for the Reno-Sparks area and successfully submitted the necessary endorsements to the state's mitigation task force.

Masks remain mandatory. Control over all other COVID-19 measures began May 1 in all of Nevada's other counties under local plans.

Washoe County's new plan eliminates capacity limits effective June 1, unless there's a big spike in the new cases. In the meantime it allows full capacity in businesses with enough space to still comply with six-feet social-distancing.

9:25 a.m.: Pandemic led to 30% increase in worker deaths in certain California industries

During the first 10 months of the coronavirus pandemic, California saw a 30% increase in the deaths of essential workers in 10 industries, according to a new study by U.C. Merced’s Community and Labor Center.

The U.C. study found that overall deaths among Californians aged 18-65 increased by 25% in 2020. Workers accounted for 87% — or more than 14,000 — of those additional deaths.

Dr. Edward Flores, who helped direct the study, said that the pandemic just exposed previously existing inequalities in the workplace.

“There’s a need for better awareness for the rights that workers have, of their ability to take sick leave, to file a complaint in regards to health and safety conditions,” said Flores.

The most affected groups of workers came from industries such as warehouses, agriculture, restaurants and food services, and grocery stores. Among the 10 industries with the highest death increases were nursing care, landscaping, and building services like janitorial and security work.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

9:07 a.m.: FDA could OK Pfizer vaccine for teens by next week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the start of the next school year.

According to the Associated Press, the update comes from a federal official and a person familiar with the vaccine approval process.

The FDA action would be followed by a federal vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year olds. Then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would act on the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

6:40 p.m.: California urges people to vacation in state, boost tourism

California tourism leaders are urging residents to spend their pent-up travel dollars exploring their home state as coronavirus case numbers stay low.

The tourism industry is reeling from a steep decline in revenue, plummeting from $145 billion in 2019 to $65 billion last year.

The state of nearly 40 million people has been among the most conservative in the U.S. with strict restrictions in place to curb the pandemic. It's gradually reopening but tourism revenue is not expected to top pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

Tourism officials are calling on Californians to do their patriotic duty and vacation within the state to bolster the industry.

6:34 p.m.: Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates launch Sac-Bike-Match 

If you're in the market for a new bike, you may have to wait a while. There's a nationwide shortage because of the pandemic and predominantly shipping out of China and Asia. 

The Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, or SABA, has launched a program called Sac-Bike-Match. They're asking people to donate old bikes. SABA will then match those bikes with essential workers once they've been reconditioned at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen repair site in midtown.   

"We're in partnership with them and we wrench those bikes, make sure that they're in great working order and then we match them up with somebody else and get them on the road,” said Debra Banks. 

May is National Bike Month. It's mostly virtual in Sacramento again this year because of the pandemic, but SABA is hoping to host a few rides in small groups.

3:30 p.m.: Children now account for 22% of new COVID-19 infections in US

The number of children contracting COVID-19 in the U.S. is much lower than the record highs set at the start of the new year, but children now account for more than a fifth of new coronavirus cases, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This number is based on states that release their data by age, but still, it’s a statistic that’s surprised many — just one year ago, child COVID-19 cases only made up around 3% of the U.S. total.

Now, children represent 22.4% of the new cases reported in the past week as of this Monday. The cases account for 71,659 out of 319,691 cases. The latest report, drawn from data collected through April 29, illustrates how children’s share of coronavirus infections has grown in recent weeks.

There seems to be several factors why — particularly high vaccination rates among older Americans lowers the number of adults getting sick. But other dynamics are also in play, from new COVID-19 variants to the loosening of restrictions on school activities.

It’s also worth noting that for the vast majority of the pandemic, the age group with the highest case rates has been 18 to 24 year-olds in the U.S.

3:22 p.m.: Las Vegas convention center will transform into drive-thru vaccine clinic

Health officials say they hope to administer more than 1,000 doses a day of coronavirus vaccines to Las Vegas-area residents once the first big drive-thru COVID-19 shot clinic opens Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

According to the Associated Press, the Southern Nevada Health District on Monday said the goal is for 60% of the eligible population to receive at least one dose. If they reach that goal, that would meet a goal the Clark County Commission set for fully reopening casinos and businesses without social distancing rules. However, masks would still be required.

To date, the percentage of state residents who have gotten at least one shot is 47%.

3:10 p.m.: UN inks Moderna deal to provide 500 million doses globally

Moderna and vaccine promoter Gavi have announced a deal by which the pharmaceutical company will provide up to 500 million coronavirus vaccines, according to the Associated Press.

The U.N.-backed program will ship the doses to clinics and vaccination centers in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2022.

The advance purchase agreement comes just days after the World Health Organization announced the emergency approval for the Moderna vaccine that will pave the way for its rollout in the U.N.-backed COVAX program.

However, deliveries of the vaccines are not set to begin until the fourth quarter of this year, and the vast majority of the doses in the deal — 466 million — are planned for only next year.

9:39 a.m.: Las Vegas hitting jackpot as pandemic-weary visitors return

Las Vegas has been jammed lately with pandemic-weary tourists looking for excitement and entertainment.

According to the Associated Press, on Saturday, casino capacity limits on the Strip increased again to 80%, while person-to-person distancing drops to 3 feet. However, masks are still required.

The boom began as casino occupancy went from 35% to 50% on March 15 under state health guidelines. Analysts point to pent-up demand, available rooms and federal coronavirus relief checks.

Economic markers are now ringing up a revival on the neon resort corridor that was ghostly quite a year ago. Casinos have also reported four slot jackpots worth upward of $1 million in the last week.

9:15 a.m.: Public transit tries to woo back riders

As President Joe Biden urges more federal spending on public transportation, transit agencies decimated by COVID-19 are struggling to figure out how to win back passengers.

According to the Associated Press, commuting patterns are changing as work-from-home arrangements show signs of becoming a longer-term trend, and riders are still hesitant to return to potentially crowded spaces on buses and trains.

Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan would provide $85 billion over eight years to update and replace subway cars and repair aging tracks and stations. Of that amount, $25 billion would go to expanding bus routes and rail lines. Another $25 billion would pay to convert gasoline- and diesel-powered mass transit buses to zero-emission electric vehicles.

Even with the country slowly opening up again, transportation officials say it could take years to get riders back. Transit agencies are trying different approaches to win over riders, from reduced fares to shiny new bus stops and even shifting transit schedules around to accommodate more passengers due to the pandemic shift away from 9-to-5 work.

9:07 a.m.: US to start global COVID-19 vaccine distribution talks

Two White House officials say the U.S. trade representative will begin talks on COVID-19 vaccine distribution around the world, according to The Associated Press.

The trade representative will begin talks in the world Trade Organization on ways to overcome intellectual property issues that are keeping poorer countries from making their own generic version of critically needed COVID-19 vaccines.

White House chief of staff Ron Klan said trade representative Katherine Tai will be starting talks with the trade organization to get the vaccine more widely distributed, licensed and shared.

Klain and national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration will have more to say on the matter in the coming days.

Find older coronavirus updates on our previous blog page here.