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Schools Close Over Coronavirus Concerns Schools Close Over Coronavirus Concerns
(3 months later)
Good morning.Good morning.
We know you don’t normally hear from us on Saturdays. But these aren’t normal times, so we thought we’d send you a quick update on the coronavirus outbreak.We know you don’t normally hear from us on Saturdays. But these aren’t normal times, so we thought we’d send you a quick update on the coronavirus outbreak.
On Friday, the state’s four largest school districts: Los Angeles Unified, San Diego Unified, Fresno Unified and Long Beach Unified all announced they’ll close starting Monday, as health officials in Los Angeles confirmed eight more cases in the county.On Friday, the state’s four largest school districts: Los Angeles Unified, San Diego Unified, Fresno Unified and Long Beach Unified all announced they’ll close starting Monday, as health officials in Los Angeles confirmed eight more cases in the county.
Los Angeles Unified said its schools will be closed for at least two weeks, while San Diego Unified schools will be closed until at least April 6.Los Angeles Unified said its schools will be closed for at least two weeks, while San Diego Unified schools will be closed until at least April 6.
“There is evidence the virus is already present in the communities we serve, and our efforts now must be aimed at preventing its spread,” the districts’ two superintendents, Austin Beutner of Los Angeles and Cindy Marten of San Diego said in a joint statement.“There is evidence the virus is already present in the communities we serve, and our efforts now must be aimed at preventing its spread,” the districts’ two superintendents, Austin Beutner of Los Angeles and Cindy Marten of San Diego said in a joint statement.
Fresno Unified will be closed through April 13 and Long Beach Unified will resume April 20.Fresno Unified will be closed through April 13 and Long Beach Unified will resume April 20.
Northern California’s largest district, Elk Grove School District, which announced on March 7 that it would close for a week, will remain closed.Northern California’s largest district, Elk Grove School District, which announced on March 7 that it would close for a week, will remain closed.
That means districts that, combined, serve more than 1,000,000 students across the state will be closed next week.That means districts that, combined, serve more than 1,000,000 students across the state will be closed next week.
That’s including San Francisco Unified School District, which announced earlier that schools would close on Monday.That’s including San Francisco Unified School District, which announced earlier that schools would close on Monday.
If you have children in school, check in with their districts to find out more about plans for students. (Officials have said they’re working on figuring out what to do.)If you have children in school, check in with their districts to find out more about plans for students. (Officials have said they’re working on figuring out what to do.)
In the meantime, here are the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in every California county as of 8 p.m. Friday.In the meantime, here are the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in every California county as of 8 p.m. Friday.
(Here’s the sign-up to get California Today delivered to your inbox.)(Here’s the sign-up to get California Today delivered to your inbox.)
Now that schools are closed, how can you find creative ways to support kids? Here are some tips from NYT Parenting that can help parents and their children navigate this new reality. [The New York Times]Now that schools are closed, how can you find creative ways to support kids? Here are some tips from NYT Parenting that can help parents and their children navigate this new reality. [The New York Times]
Updated June 5, 2020
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
If you’re spending more time at home this weekend and have some downtime, here’s a guide to what to watch on Netflix and other streaming services. [The New York Times]If you’re spending more time at home this weekend and have some downtime, here’s a guide to what to watch on Netflix and other streaming services. [The New York Times]
We hope you and your families are safe and calm. See you on Monday.We hope you and your families are safe and calm. See you on Monday.
California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.
Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.