August 10, 2020
Mexico is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the world and officials say at least 52,000 people have died — the world’s third-highest toll, after the US and Brazil — and there are indications the true total is even greater. Mexico’s struggle has been made harder by a pervasive phenomenon which is a deeply rooted fear of hospitals. That means many sick people don’t seek care until their cases are so bad that doctors can do little to help them
In a rare agreement between drug companies, Pfizer said it would help manufacture remdesivir, made by Gilead Sciences, to increase the supply of the drug, which some hospitals have had to ration among Covid-19 patients
At least 97,000 children in the US tested positive for Covid-19 in the final 2 weeks of July, and there’s been an estimated 338,000 cases involving American children since the pandemic began, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Association. And the virus disproportionately affects Black and Latino children who have the highest rates of hospitalization, per the CDC — 570 reported from March 2 to July 18 of young people (infancy to 20 years old) infected with the virus and 40.5% were Hispanic, 33.1% were Black, and 13.2% were white. The latest CDC report said that while most coronavirus cases in children tend to be asymptomatic or milk, less is known about severe infections in children requiring hospitalization
Scammers across the country are taking advantage of the current economic crisis and the pandemic in committing unemployment fraud. With limited resources to guard against it, California’s jobless claims process is probably at risk for exploitation — just 27 sworn officers are assigned to investigate fraudulent applications and unemployment fraud is skyrocketing across the US. People who file unemployment claims in California must verify their identity and periodically certify that they are still unemployed. However, when the system bogged down in April and jobless Californians flooded the state with complaints, the EDD temporarily suspended a requirement for applicants to certify eligibility, and the stakes got higher for fraudsters when Congress approved an extra $600 for unemployment benefits. The public was urged to be on the lookout for suspicious activity, including receiving unemployment insurance forms though an application for benefits was not made
This week, a Covid-19 testing site will open just outside a pedestrian crossing in San Ysidro, where tens of thousands of people enter the US from Mexico every day. Cases continue to climb near the border and despite US restrictions on nonessential travel, between 18,000 and 22,000 people cross at PedEast every day, including American citizens who live in Tijuana and Mexican citizens with work visas who are essential workers in
healthcare, at public agencies, and in restaurants
Some US colleges are requiring promises from students to help contain the coronavirus, including no keg parties, no long road trips, and no outside guests on campus. Administrators warn that failure to wear masks, practice social distancing, and avoiding mass gatherings could bring serious consequences, including expulsion from school. Critics question whether it’s realistic to demand that college students not act like typical college students, but the push illustrates the high stakes for universities planning to welcome at least some students back. Widespread Covid-19 testing, quarantines, and plexiglass barriers won’t work if too many students misbehave
Last week, a Covid-19 outbreak emerged at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, where about 120 detainees are held. So far, 14 staff members and 9 detainees have tested positive. Detainees and immigration rights advocates described a chaotic situation there, with 2 men hospitalized since Saturday and several more
displaying symptoms of the virus while being held in large dormitories with others who feared becoming infected. A federal judge ruleed that the evidence showed that ICE had avoided widespread testing of staff and detainees at the facility, not for lack of tests, but for fear that positive test results would require them to implement safety measures that they apparently felt were not worth the trouble. The judge ordered officials to administer weekly Covid-19 tests to all detainees at the facility and not take in new detainees
A guard at San Quentin State Prison died Sunday from Covid-19. There have been 26 confirmed coronavirus cases, but this is the first correctional officer to die from the illness. At least 24 inmates have died in an outbreak that has been linked to the transfer of inmates to San Quentin from a state prison in Chino
Disney began a phased reopening of its parks last month, but says it will scale back its Florida park’s hours due to a surge in coronavirus cases, especially among young people in Florida. A new poll found that 78% of parents don’t want to go back to a theme park this year and only 47% want to visit next year
California’s Public Health Director Dr. Angell, a top official part of a team developing the state’s response to the pandemic, unexpectedly resigned Sunday night after less than a year on the job. No reason was given for the resignation which was effective immediately. It comes after a major blunder with the state’s Covid-19 tracking system when a computer glitch caused several thousand cases to go unreported — the state is working through that backlog to provide more accurate numbers. Governor Newsom announced today that the public health computer database glitch that had distorted test results had been fixed
LA County reported an additional 1,920 cases and 19 deaths. Totals are now 210,424 cases and 4,996 deaths. Out of 1.9 million people tested in the county, 10% have been found to be positive for Covid-19. Dr. Ferrer also “cautiously” reported that the key indicators including the 7-day average of new cases as well as positivity rate is declining. Hospitalizations and the average daily death numbers also are declining. Protocols for youth sports and childcare/day camps have been released on the county’s public health website and for the new school year, LAUSD will be a re-start of virtual learning until we are under the state’s 200 positive cases per 100,000 people cap. LA County is now at 335 cases per 100,000 people. Dr. Ferrer added that the county has a robust contact tracing department and are urging all who have tested positive to participate — a $20 gift card incentive has been approved to increase participation and she reminded everyone that the information collected is confidential. City Breakouts (Cases/Deaths): City of LA 85,879/2,255; Long Beach 8,775/181; Carson 1,427/40; El Segundo 103/0; Gardena 957/35; Hawthorne 1,576/30; Hermosa Beach 164/2; Inglewood 2,280/80; Lawndale 525/9; Lomita 193/7; Manhattan Beach 283/4; PV Estates 76/2; Rancho PV 241/12; Redondo Beach 467/9; Rolling Hills 5/0; Rolling Hills Estates 32/2; Torrance 1,149/60
Compiled by Charlene Nishimura
Media Sources: Los Angeles Times; New York Times; Washington Post; Wall Street Journal; Forbes Magazine; Business Insider; USA Today; CBS News; CNN; KTLA; OZY; ABC World News Tonight; Spectrum News 1; The Hill.com; WebMD; AP, Politico, Newsweek, Reuters, televised briefings from the White House, Governor Newsom, LA County Health Department, Mayor Garcetti; City of Torrance press releases; Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce press releases
