California coronavirus updates: Top California lawmaker calls U.S. monkeypox response ‘maddeningly slow’ despite two years of COVID

5:10 p.m.: Top California lawmaker calls U.S. monkeypox response ‘maddeningly slow’ despite two years of COVID 

1:13 p.m.: Sacramento City Council meetings going back to in-person

The Sacramento City Council is headed again to City Hall chambers after holding digital conferences all pandemic lengthy.

The metropolis has argued for months it ought to proceed with digital conferences whereas underneath a state of emergency. They mentioned it’s an effort to maintain probably the most susceptible secure whereas bodily distancing continues to be advisable.

But after two years of video conferences, the council goes again to the dais on Aug. 9.

The following week, residents will be capable of attend conferences in individual, however the chambers will solely be half-full. People can even must put on a masks and sit one seat other than one another.

11:53 a.m.: Southern California man sentenced for pandemic PPP fraud

A Southern California man who tried to acquire $27 million in unemployment advantages by falsely claiming his enterprise was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to greater than 11 years in federal jail.

The Associated Press experiences that Robert Benlevi submitted 27 functions for forgivable loans underneath the Paycheck Protection Program.

Benlevi made functions to 4 banks on behalf of the eight corporations he owned. He claimed that every firm had 100 workers when in truth, that they had none.

Authorities say Benlevi sought $27 million and obtained $3 million.

11:40 a.m.: FDA approves Novavax, a ‘traditional’ vaccine option for COVID-19

Health officers say U.S. adults who haven’t gotten any COVID-19 pictures but ought to take into account a brand new possibility from Novavax.

According to the Associated Press, the protein-based shot is a extra conventional type of vaccine than the three mRNA manufacturers accessible within the U.S.

Federal regulators licensed the two-dose vaccine final week for adults. Recently advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously advisable the choice on Tuesday and the company agreed.

The firm hopes to additionally clear booster doses and teenage use pretty quickly.

11:55 a.m.: Dr. Fauci plans to retire by 2025

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s high infectious illness professional, says he plans to retire by the tip of President Joe Biden’s time period in January 2025, as reported by the Associated Press.

Fauci, 81, turned director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984 and has suggested seven presidents.

Fauci mentioned on CNN Monday that he doesn’t have a selected retirement date in thoughts and hasn’t began the method.

He was thrust into the nationwide highlight on the peak of the coronavirus pandemic underneath then-President Donald Trump, who prompt the pandemic would “fade away,” promoted unproven therapy strategies and vilified scientists who countered him.

11:24 a.m.: Scars of COVID persist for sickest survivors, their families

While greater than 1 million folks within the United States died of COVID-19, many extra survived ICU stays which have left them with anxiousness, PTSD, and a number of well being points, the Associated Press reports.

Research has proven that intensive remedy beginning within the ICU will help, but it surely was typically onerous to offer as hospitals teemed with sufferers.

Families discover themselves in a tricky place because the world strikes on and masks mandates disappear. The COVID-19 pandemic will not be gone for them and it could by no means be. Those that survived are left coping with long-term penalties.

11:32 a.m.: Ballot boxes used during COVID-19 pandemic for 2020 election are safe, survey says

An Associated Press survey of state election officers throughout the U.S. discovered that the expanded use of drop containers for mailed allots in the course of the 2020 election didn’t result in any widespread issues.

The survey revealed no circumstances of fraud, vandalism, or theft that would have affected the outcomes — opposite to false claims made by former President Donald Trump and his allies, who’ve intensely criticized their use and falsely claimed they opened the door to fraud.

Drop containers are thought of by election officers to be secure and safe. They turned a mainstay in states with intensive mail voting for years and had not beforehand rained any alarms.

They had been used broadly in 2020 as election officers sought to offer other ways to forged ballots with the COVID-19 outbreak, creating considerations about in-person voting and U.S. Postal Service delays.

Despite mail-in poll containers being almost universally agreed to be a secure voting technique, conspiracy theories and efforts by some Republicans to remove or limit them persist.

11 a.m.: The UK to offer a fourth booster dose to residents 50 and older

Everyone in Britain who’s 50 or older might be provided a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine within the fall, decreasing the age threshold from the beforehand introduced 65.

According to the Associated Press, the U.Ok.’s Department of Health mentioned it had accepted recommendation from the Union’s impartial vaccines adviser in regards to the autumn booster program.

Fourth doses can even be given to well being care employees, nursing house workers and residents, and everybody 5 and older with well being circumstances that make them extra susceptible to extreme sickness from COVID-19.

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the booster marketing campaign would “keep our defenses strong over autumn and winter.”

The U.Ok. has one of Europe’s highest official dying tolls within the pandemic, with nearly 178,000 confirmed deaths.

11:41 a.m.: 25 million kids worldwide missed their immunizations due to misinformation surrounding COVID-19

About 25 million kids worldwide have missed out on routine immunizations in opposition to ailments like diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, largely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic disrupted common well being companies or triggered misinformation about vaccines.

According to the Associated Press, a brand new report revealed Friday by the World Health Organization and UNICEF mentioned their figures present that 25 million kids final yr didn’t get vaccinated in opposition to these three ailments, a marker for childhood immunization protection.

That continues a downward pattern in childhood immunizations that started in 2019.

UNICEF known as it “a red alert” for little one well being, warning that the dearth of vaccinations and the present rise in world malnutrition would end in many lives misplaced.

11:35 a.m.: Canada approves Moderna vaccine for preschoolers

Canadian regulators have licensed Moderna’s COVID-19 pictures for infants and preschoolers, in accordance with the Associated Press.

Health Canada mentioned the Moderna vaccine might be given to kids between the ages of 6 months and 5 years in doses one-quarter the scale of that authorised for adults.

U.S. regulators licensed the primary COVID-19 pictures from Moderna and Pfizer for infants and preschoolers final month.

Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters aged 6 months to five years was submitted to Health Canada final month and continues to be underneath assessment.

3:38 p.m.: Los Angeles County may soon require masks

The nation’s most populous county is going through a return to a broad indoor masks mandate as new omicron variants are once more driving hospital admissions and deaths larger. 

Health officers say Los Angeles County, house to 10 million residents, might reinstate the mandate on July 29, the Associated Press experiences. In current weeks, states and cities started to rethink their responses to COVID-19. And the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the general public. 

Some consultants say the warnings are too little, too late. The extremely transmissible variants have proven a outstanding skill to get across the safety provided by vaccination.

The extremely transmissible variants have proven a outstanding skill to get across the safety provided by an infection and vaccination — particularly as safety from vaccinations are warning for Americans overdue for booster pictures. 

Less than half of all eligible U.S. adults have gotten a single booster shot, and solely about 1 in 4 Americans age 50 and older who’re eligible for a second booster have acquired one. 

1:23 p.m.: You can reduce the time you wait between COVID-19 infection and a booster shot, Yolo County health officer says

With new, extremely contagious variants like BA.5 and the even newer BA.2.75, COVID-19 circumstances are growing. Hospitalizations in California are rising, however deaths stay low because of vaccines, therapies and therapeutics.

Dr. Aimee Sisson, the general public well being officer for Yolo County, mentioned she’s now encouraging folks to not wait as lengthy after an an infection to stand up up to now on their vaccination or booster pictures if they should.

“I used to encourage people to wait about 90 days after an infection before getting boosted because the infection itself can serve as a booster dose,” Sisson mentioned. “But I think, you know, now with the variants that we have that are escaping immunity, any additional boost that you can get from a vaccine in addition to the booster that you get from infection is important.”

Sisson mentioned you continue to want to attend at the least 10 days after an infection and never present signs akin to a fever earlier than getting a vaccine or booster shot.

11:04 a.m.: Food banks are seeing long lines again

Long traces are again at meals banks across the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation more and more search out charity to feed their households.

As reported by the Associated Press, meals banks wrestle to assist at the same time as federal applications present much less meals, grocery retailer donations wane and money gits don’t go almost as far whereas U.S. inflation hits a 40-year excessive. 

Charitable meals distribution has remained far above quantities given away earlier than the coronavirus pandemic, regardless that demand tapered off considerably late final yr.

11 a.m.: Officials look to expand monkeypox vaccine access as outbreak continues

While COVID-19 continues to unfold, one other virus outbreak is on the rise in California: Monkeypox.

There are over 140 doable and confirmed circumstances of the virus within the state California as of this week. At least 10 doable circumstances have been reported in Sacramento County, according to KCRA.

The Biden administration introduced final week that nearly 300,000 doses of the vaccine would turn into accessible nationwide all through the nation within the upcoming weeks to handle an ongoing vaccine scarcity.

Currently, the vaccine is just accessible now for many who have had suspected or confirmed publicity to monkeypox.

In Sacramento County, it’s additionally being provided to males who’ve intercourse with different males and trans folks in the event that they match particular standards. County well being officers mentioned these considering getting the vaccine ought to verify with their healthcare supplier or contact the Sacramento County Public Health Immunization Assistance Program at (916) 875-7468 to schedule an appointment.

Tuesday, July 12

11:34 a.m.: White House urges caution on latest COVID-19 variants and is pushing for more booster shots

The Biden Administration is asking on folks to train renewed warning about COVID-19, emphasizing the significance of getting booster pictures for many who are eligible and carrying masks indoors.

According to the Associated Press, the warning comes as two new extremely transmissible variants are spreading quickly throughout the nation.

The new variants, labeled BA.4 and BA.5, are offshoots of the omicron pressure that has been liable for almost all of the virus unfold within the U.S. and are much more contagious than their predecessors.

White House medical doctors pressed the significance of getting booster doses and mentioned folks shouldn’t wait till the autumn when vaccines focused on the variants along with the unique strains.

11:06 a.m.: European Union urges another booster for people ages 60 to 79

The European Union says it’s “critical” that authorities within the 27-nation bloc take into account giving second coronavirus booster pictures to folks between the ages of 60 to 79 years and different susceptible folks.

As reported by the Associated Press, a brand new wave of the pandemic is sweeping throughout Europe.

European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides mentioned in an announcement that with circumstances rising in many countries, “there is no time to lose.”

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and European Medicines Agency mentioned that the second booster might be given at the least 4 months after the primary booster.

The current recommendation comes after the companies in April advisable that individuals over 80 years of age be thought of for a second booster.

10:48 a.m.: London’s Heathrow will limit daily passengers amid travel boom

London’s Heathrow Airport is capping every day passenger numbers for the summer season and telling airways to cease promoting tickets because it steps up efforts to quell journey chaos attributable to hovering journey demand and workers shortages.

According to the Associated Press, Britain’s busiest airport mentioned that it’s setting a restrict of 100,000 passengers that it may possibly deal with every day by means of Sept. 11.

The restriction is prone to end in extra canceled flights even after airways have already slashed hundreds of flights from their summer season schedules.

Booming demand for summer season journey after two years of COVID-19 journey restrictions have overwhelmed European airways and airports that had laid off tens of hundreds of workers amid the depths of the pandemic.

11:02 a.m.: New coronavirus mutation is causing concerns among scientists

The shortly altering coronavirus has spawned one more tremendous contagious omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists because it beneficial properties floor in India and pops up in quite a few different international locations, together with the U.S.

Scientists say the variant, which is named BA.2.75, could possibly unfold quickly and get round immunity from vaccines and former an infection, in accordance with the Associated Press.

It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not it might trigger extra critical illness than the globally dominate omicron variant BA.5.

Scientists are involved about the truth that this new variant is geographically widespread — it’s already been detected in India in addition to about 10 different nations.

10:32 a.m.: Weddings derailed by pandemic got to celebrate their union at a ‘re-wedding’ event in New York

Hundreds of {couples} whose weddings had been derailed or scaled again because of the COVD-19 pandemic obtained a do-over because of a New York City landmark.

According to the Associated Press, the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York City hosted “Celebrate Love: A (Re)Wedding” on Sunday within the pavilion outdoors the middle.

Lincoln Center’s web site known as it “a special day for newlyweds, those whose weddings were canceled or diminished and people who want to recommit their love to their partners and the city we love.”

The occasion featured a multicultural ceremony, music, dancing and extra. The web site notes that the ceremony will not be legally binding.

10:05 a.m.: Baby formula production once again resumes at the troubled Abbott Nutrition factory

Abbott Nutrition says child method manufacturing has resumed on the Michigan plant, whose February shutdown over contamination contributed to a nationwide scarcity.

As reported by the Associated Press, injury from extreme thunderstorms had halted the Sturgis plant operations in mid-June after simply two weeks of renewed manufacturing. Abbott says EleCare, a specialty method, is being made at Sturgis following a July 1 reboot and that Similac manufacturing will resume as quickly as doable.

Abbott is only one of 4 corporations that produce 90% of U.S. child method.

Its recall in February of a number of main rands squeezed provides already strained by provide chain disruptions and stockpiling throughout COVID-19 shutdowns.

10:38 a.m.: Biden awards Medal of Freedom to first nurse in the US to receive coronavirus vaccine

President Joe Biden has offered the nation’s highest civilian honor to 17 folks, together with gymnast Simone Biles and the late Arizona Republican Sen. Jon McCain.

The president who took workplace in the course of the coronavirus pandemic additionally honored Sandra Lindsay, the New York nurse who acquired the primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine that was administered within the U.S. outdoors of medical trials.

Others receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom embody gun security advocate Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. ladies’s nationwide soccer crew participant Megan Rapinoe and late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

10:30 a.m.: Uruguay pauses vaccinations for children under 13

Uruguay has stopped administering coronavirus vaccines to kids underneath age 13, the Associated Press experiences.

The halt started after a decide ordered on Thursday that each one inoculations in that age group halt till officers current paperwork referring to contracts signed with vaccine producers.

The authorities says it’ll attire the ruling, characterizing the stoppage as a risk to public well being.

Vaccination for youngsters underneath 13 in Uruguay has been on a voluntary foundation. The Health Ministry says vaccinations for these older than 13 will proceed.

10:16 a.m.: Beijing residents push back against vaccine mandate

Beijing, China’s capital, seems to be backing off a vaccine mandate it introduced simply two days in the past.

According to the Associated Press, the mandate would require vaccinations for entry into sure public areas, together with gyms, museums and libraries, beginning subsequent week. It drew intense dialogue as metropolis residents apprehensive how the sudden coverage announcement would disrupt their lives.

While not explicitly saying the federal government had dropped the plan, a metropolis official was quoted in state media late Thursday saying that individuals might enter venues with a detrimental virus check outcome and a temperature verify, as has been the norm.

They additionally mentioned vaccinations would proceed on the precept of knowledgeable, voluntary consent.

10:41 a.m.: Pharmacists can now prescribe COVID-19 pill to patients

U.S. pharmacists can now prescribe the main COVID-19 capsule on to customers, in accordance with the Associated Press.

The Food and Drug Administration mentioned Wednesday that pharmacists can start screening sufferers to see if they’re eligible after which prescribe Pfizer’s drug Paxlovid.

Previously solely medical doctors might prescribe it. Paxlovid has been proven to curb the worst results of COVID-19, but it surely must be began inside 5 days of signs.

Paxlovid is meant for folks with COVID-19 who usually tend to turn into critically unwell, together with older folks and people with well being circumstances.

10:19 a.m.: The Sacramento Food Bank’s two Oak Park locations are closing

The Sacramento Food Bank is closing its two Oak Park services to consolidate companies at its North Sacramento Location.

The closures got here with little warning to the neighborhood it’s served for 50 years. Residents had been outraged on social media and had been left confused by the choice.

The group’s Family Services constructing had grownup schooling, clothes applications and offered authorized help for immigrants.

In response, the meals financial institution’s president and CEO, Blake Young, answered a couple of questions in regards to the closure at a current public assembly.

“We’re lucky in that we can provide some of those other family services,” they mentioned. “But with the pandemic, with inflation, with where we saw the demand for food resources in our own county going, we needed to focus on that.”

He mentioned a quantity of companies provided at Oak Park places had been suspended as a result of of the pandemic. Since then, the meals financial institution has leaned on different neighborhood organizations to assist.

9:52 a.m.: Canada is throwing out 13.6 AstraZeneca vaccine doses

Canada goes to throw out about 13.6 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines as a result of it couldn’t discover any takers for it both at house or overseas.

According to the Associated Press, Canada signed a contract with AstraZeneca in 2020 to get 20 million doses, and a pair of.3 million Canadians acquired at the least one dose of it, principally between March and June 2021.

Following considerations within the spring of 2021 about uncommon however doubtlessly deadly blood clots from AstraZeneca, Canada as a substitute targeted on utilizing its ample provides of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

In July 2021, the nation promised to donate the remainder of its procured provide, about 17.7 million doses, however in an announcement on Tuesday, Health Canada mentioned that despite efforts to satisfy the pledge, 13.6 million doses have expired and can must be thrown out.

10:56 a.m.: COVID-19 vaccine requirement dropped for Nevada university employees

The Nevada Board of Regents will now not require workers on the state’s public universities and faculties to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

According to the Associated Press, a majority of the regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education voted Thursday to rescind an worker vaccine mandate after it was first authorised final yr.

Regents met on the problem in December however couldn’t come to a majority vote.

Hundreds of workers statewide ended up quitting or dropping their job as a result of they might not get vaccinated. It was not instantly clear if these workers can be provided their jobs again.

According to the regents, roughly 97% of 22,000 present system workers have gotten vaccinated.

10:40 a.m.: CDC urges counties in high-risk areas to start masking again. Sacramento County is on this list.

People in 24 Oregon counties, 15 counties in Washington and over 30 counties in California ought to resume mask-wearing indoors in public and on public transportation, in accordance with suggestions from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data from the CDC reveals that these aforementioned counties are thought of at excessive threat for COVID-19 an infection as of June 30, the Associated Press reports.

California counties labeled as excessive threat embody: Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado and the remainder of the encircling space.

High threat means the counties have had 200 or extra new COVID-19 circumstances per 100,000 folks within the final seven days or greater than 20 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 inside a seven-day interval.

Emerging analysis suggests reinfections might put folks at larger threat for well being issues.

Unvaccinated folks have a six occasions larger threat of dying from COVID-19 in contrast with folks with at the least a main collection of pictures, the CDC estimated based mostly on accessible information from April.

10:36 a.m.: Shanghai and Beijing are forced to undergo more COVID-19 testing

Residents in components of Shanghai and Beijing have been ordered to bear additional rounds of COVID-19 testing following the invention of new circumstances within the two cities.

According to the Associated Press, eating places have additionally been restricted to takeout solely within the northern metropolis of Xi’an, which endured one of China’s most sweeping lockdowns underneath the hardline zero-COVID coverage.

The playing hub of Macao has additionally shut down one of its most well-known resort casinos after circumstances had been found there.

The strict measures have been retained despite comparatively low numbers of circumstances, with mainland China reporting 353 circumstances of home transmission on Wednesday, 241 of them asymptomatic.

10:03 a.m.: About half of US adults would continue using virtual services

A brand new ballot reveals that about half of Americans would assume it’s a “good thing” if digital choices proceed, as reported by the Associated Press.

Digital companies like train lessons, telehealth and so forth are all examples of companies that moved remotely in the course of the pandemic.

However, a ballot from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that near half of U.S. adults say they received’t return to digital actions like having groceries delivered or use curbside pickup as soon as the pandemic ends.

9:56 a.m.: Monkeypox cases triple, worrying health officials

The World Health group’s European chief has warned that monkeypox circumstances throughout the area have tripled within the final two weeks and known as on international locations to take stronger measures to make sure the beforehand uncommon illness doesn’t turn into entrenched within the continent.

According to the Associated Press, in an announcement on Friday, Dr. Hans Kluge mentioned elevated efforts had been wanted despite the U.N. well being company’s choice to not declare the escalating outbreak a world well being emergency final week.

To date, greater than 5,000 monkeypox circumstances have been reported from 51 international locations worldwide, in accordance with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention.

Kluge mentioned the quantity of infections in Europe represents about 90% of the worldwide complete.

9:32 a.m.: Two people accused of $5 million in fraud from CARES Act loans

Two males have been indicted by a federal grand jury in New Hampshire on a number of fraud costs alleging that they falsely utilized for $5 million in federal CARES Act loans for corporations and misused some of the proceeds, together with one man’s buy of a Rolls Royce.

According to the Associated Press, courtroom paperwork say each males had been based mostly in New Hampshire, however one later moved to Irvine, Calif.

Prosecutors allege that the two utilized for over two dozen loans in 2020 and in 2021, submitting fabricated tax paperwork.

The California man was arrested in Hawaii on Thursday.

It wasn’t instantly recognized if he had an lawyer. The New Hampshire man was arrested, launched and faces a listening to.

9:16 a.m.: When can you stop isolating after a COVID-19 infection? Here’s what you need to know

With inections on the rise in some locations, some Americans are questioning — when are you able to cease isolating after a COVID-19 an infection?

It can really feel additional worrying and complicated if you happen to’re feeling good however nonetheless testing optimistic on a fast check.

NPR experiences that even with the brand new subvariants, the fundamental guidelines haven’t modified since omicron first developed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says somebody can cease isolating after 5 days in the event that they’re fever-free for twenty-four hours and are beginning to get higher.

Just maintain carrying your masks for an additional 5 days.

Some researchers don’t agree and level out that some individuals are nonetheless infectious after day 5. But if you happen to’re feeling alright and are drained of ready, right here’s what you could know.

8:32 a.m.: Summer travel numbers are all over the place due to pandemic recovery

Summer journey is underway throughout the globe, however a full restoration from two years of coronavirus might final so long as the pandemic itself.

Interviews by the Associated Press in 11 international locations in June present that almost all passionate vacationers are thronging to locales just like the French Riviera, Amsterdam and the American Midwest.

But at the same time as security restrictions fall, locations like Israel, India and Rome are reporting solely fractions of the record-setting tourism of 2019.

For them, a full restoration isn’t forecasted till at the least 2024. China, as soon as the world’s greatest supply of vacationers, stays closed per its “zero-COVID” coverage, which is holding down the rebound in lots of international locations.

Find older coronavirus updates on our earlier weblog web page right here