Wednesday marks National Nurses Day and this year’s observance is especially poignant.
Nurses were honored today across the nation, state and Bay Area for the work they’re doing on front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Just now, President @realDonaldTrump welcomed incredible healthcare warriors to the Oval Office in honor of National Nurses Day! pic.twitter.com/fsszeyf8rV
— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) May 6, 2020
We’re thankful for nurses everyday, but especially today. #NationalNursesDay | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/GmRp5GHUou
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 6, 2020
Mabel K. Staupers (1890-1989) successfully led the decades-long charge to integrate black women nurses into the military nurses corp. Staupers served as executive secretary of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) from 1934-1949. #NationalNursesDay pic.twitter.com/iTM296nbqP
— Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) May 6, 2020
Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center Covid-19 tracking tool as of Wednesday at 6:32 p.m.
Open SFBay USA coronavirus tracker.Source: John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center Covid-19 tracking tool as of Wednesday at 6:32 p.m.
Orange County
Source: Orange County Health Care Agency as of Wednesday, five days after the May 1 Huntington Beach protest.
Sacramento County
Source: Sacramento County Public Health as of Wednesday, five days after the May 1 State Capitol protest.
Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday announced that workers who contract Covid-19 while on the job may be able to receive workers’ compensation under a new executive order.
Newsom said in a statement that the state is removing a burden on workers who continue to be on the front lines and putting their own health at risk:
“Workers’ compensation is a critical piece to reopening the state and it will help workers get the care they need to get healthy, and in turn, protect public health.”
Individuals who may be eligible will have the rebuttable presumption if they tested positive for Covid-19 or were diagnosed with the virus within 14 days of working after the state’s stay-at-home order was issued on March 19.
Additionally, the governor signed an executive order that waives penalties for anyone who paid property taxes after the April 10 deadline if they can demonstrate financial hardship due to the pandemic. The waiver applies to residents and small businesses.
Newsom plans to share guidelines Thursday for businesses that begin operating by Friday as part of the next stage of the state’s plan to reopen.
Open SFBay Bay Area coronavirus dashboard in new window.Source: The Alameda County Public Health Department with data reported through Tuesday and including Berkeley.
Berkeley announced Wednesday that anyone with Covid-19 symptoms can be tested free of charge at one of the city’s testing sites.
Anyone with symptoms outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can call to make an appointment at (510) 981-5380, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A nurse will screen callers and schedule appointments if deemed necessary.
Source: Contra Costa Health Services as of Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
An inmate booked at Martinez Detention Facility tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, county officials said.
The person has been in quarantine since booked at the facility and placed in clinical isolation where doctors and nurses are caring for them. The person is reportedly in stable condition.
Since mid-March, Contra Costa Health Services has performed tests on inmates showing symptoms of Covid-19 as they were booked but testing has recently been expanded to all asymptomatic inmates. Health officials have performed 53 tests in the county’s jails.
Source: Marin Health and Human Services as of Wednesday.
While Gov. Newsom is set to announce plans to allow some retail businesses to reopen this week with curbside-only service, Marin County officials said they will not make any allowances for curbside service until possibly May 18.
Officials said this will give more time to prepare and work with regional health officers.
The county has also created a website Marin Recovers with further details for the area’s phased plan to reopen.
Source: Department of Health and Human Services as of Wednesday.
Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health with data as of Wednesday.
San Francisco unveiled plans Wednesday to address public health concerns over the poor condition of streets in the Tenderloin.
COVID-19 has limited our ability to accept people into shelters and get them off the street. We're moving folks into hotels, but the conditions in the Tenderloin have become unacceptable.
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) May 6, 2020
We're launching a block-by-block plan to support this community. https://t.co/wpkoRCkozl
On Monday, The City was hit with a lawsuit brought by University of California, Hastings College of Law and others to demand officials take action to improve street conditions that have grown worse during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mayor London Breed and Jeff Koisitsky, the Healthy Streets Operations Center manager, revealed during a press conference plans to address issues like tent encampments and health concerns for people unable to practice physical distancing.
City officials said there has been a 71 percent increase in tents and temporary structures since the last count held on April 22.
In the Tenderloin, a recent count found 268 tents and structures, including 18 sites with six or more tents or structures established at each. According to a report, this represents a 285 percent increase in tents in the Tenderloin since January 2020.
To address the growth, Kositsky said The City will offer safe sleeping alternatives for unsheltered individuals living in tents. City officials are planning to open a Safe Sleeping Village on Fulton Street between Hyde and Larkin streets where up to 50 people could camp in a regulated site with services.
The City is also looking to close off streets in an effort to provide additional safe sleeping space and plans to establish a safe sleeping area near the Asian Art Museum and potentially another at the San Francisco Public Library.
There are 13 high-priority blocks in the Tenderloin that city officials will address first, but each of the area’s 49 blocks will be attended to, Kositsky said.
Source: San Mateo County Health with data reported through Tuesday.
Source: Santa Clara County Public Health Department as of Wednesday.
Santa Clara County officials will open this week two new community testing sites through a partnership with OptumServe and the state.
One site will be located at James Lick High School in East San José and the other at Christopher High School in Gilroy.
Cindy Chavez, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement:
“We want everybody in our community to have access to testing. That is the goal.”
Testing at the two sites are by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling (888) 634-1123 or visiting lhi.care/covidtesting.
Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s public health officer, said in a statement that testing is an important tool in protecting residents from Covid-19 infection.
Cody said:
“Our ultimate goal is that anyone, living in any neighborhood, can get access to testing, particularly those with symptoms of COVID-19, and those who work in settings where they may have frequent exposure.”
Source: Solano Public Health as of Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Source: County of Sonoma as of Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Open SFBay Worldwide coronavirus tracker.Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.
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