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California Calls for Residents 65 and Older to Stay at Home California Calls for Residents 65 and Older to Stay at Home
(3 months later)
SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday called for what he called “profoundly significant steps” to limit the spread of coronavirus, including the isolation at home of all residents 65 years and older; the closure of nightclubs, wineries and bars; and the purchase by the state of hotels to shelter some of the state’s 150,000 homeless people.SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday called for what he called “profoundly significant steps” to limit the spread of coronavirus, including the isolation at home of all residents 65 years and older; the closure of nightclubs, wineries and bars; and the purchase by the state of hotels to shelter some of the state’s 150,000 homeless people.
The orders in the nation’s most populous state came as governors across the country began to impose further limits on public gatherings in an attempt to slow the spread of a virus that has already claimed nearly 60 lives in the United States.The orders in the nation’s most populous state came as governors across the country began to impose further limits on public gatherings in an attempt to slow the spread of a virus that has already claimed nearly 60 lives in the United States.
“We need to meet this moment aggressively,” Mr. Newsom said. “The most important thing is to protect our most vulnerable.”“We need to meet this moment aggressively,” Mr. Newsom said. “The most important thing is to protect our most vulnerable.”
Around five million seniors in California would be affected by the guidelines, which also apply to people with certain chronic health conditions.Around five million seniors in California would be affected by the guidelines, which also apply to people with certain chronic health conditions.
The governor also banned all visits to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and hospitals except for cases in which a patient is on the edge of death.The governor also banned all visits to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and hospitals except for cases in which a patient is on the edge of death.
The purchase of hotels and motels by the state would help reduce crowding at homeless shelters. Researchers have said homeless people, many of whom have medical ailments, are among the most vulnerable to coronavirus.The purchase of hotels and motels by the state would help reduce crowding at homeless shelters. Researchers have said homeless people, many of whom have medical ailments, are among the most vulnerable to coronavirus.
The governor said the state was also negotiating to reopen a number of very large hospitals that are currently not operational to provide at least 750 extra beds in anticipation of an influx of new patients.The governor said the state was also negotiating to reopen a number of very large hospitals that are currently not operational to provide at least 750 extra beds in anticipation of an influx of new patients.
In announcing his new directives at a news briefing in Sacramento, Mr. Newsom said he did not want to place limits on what he called “productive” members of society.In announcing his new directives at a news briefing in Sacramento, Mr. Newsom said he did not want to place limits on what he called “productive” members of society.
“You need to distinguish,” he said, cautioning against across-the-board measures.“You need to distinguish,” he said, cautioning against across-the-board measures.
“There’s a sense that everything is black and white, one size fits all,” he said. “You have to be guided by common sense.”“There’s a sense that everything is black and white, one size fits all,” he said. “You have to be guided by common sense.”
The governor’s orders would close bars but allow restaurants to stay open as long as they practiced “deep social distancing.” Occupancy limits would be cut in half, he said, and tables would be required to be six feet apart.The governor’s orders would close bars but allow restaurants to stay open as long as they practiced “deep social distancing.” Occupancy limits would be cut in half, he said, and tables would be required to be six feet apart.
While seniors would be strongly encouraged to stay at home, younger people should have the option to circulate, he said.While seniors would be strongly encouraged to stay at home, younger people should have the option to circulate, he said.
“If you’re young and healthy,” Mr. Newsom said, “you’ll work through this quite well.”“If you’re young and healthy,” Mr. Newsom said, “you’ll work through this quite well.”
But he cautioned against mixing between those younger people and those who are more vulnerable.But he cautioned against mixing between those younger people and those who are more vulnerable.
All the measures announced Sunday were officially categorized as guidelines, but the governor said he had the authority to make them mandatory if they were not adequately implemented.All the measures announced Sunday were officially categorized as guidelines, but the governor said he had the authority to make them mandatory if they were not adequately implemented.
“I have all the expectation in the world that the guidelines will be followed,” he said.“I have all the expectation in the world that the guidelines will be followed,” he said.
The governor said 13 task forces were working on ways to provide water, food and fuel, if necessary, to seniors at home.The governor said 13 task forces were working on ways to provide water, food and fuel, if necessary, to seniors at home.
Updated June 12, 2020
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.
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.
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.
As the virus has spread across California — the state had around 380 cases as of Sunday — Mr. Newsom has favored a decentralized approach to fighting it. Measures that might be appropriate in Silicon Valley, one of the hardest hit areas, may not be appropriate for rural or agricultural counties, he said.As the virus has spread across California — the state had around 380 cases as of Sunday — Mr. Newsom has favored a decentralized approach to fighting it. Measures that might be appropriate in Silicon Valley, one of the hardest hit areas, may not be appropriate for rural or agricultural counties, he said.
School districts across the state have made their own decisions as to whether to close and for how long.School districts across the state have made their own decisions as to whether to close and for how long.
Mr. Newsom said school closures, which are being decided at the local level, now affect 80 to 85 percent of all schoolchildren in the state.Mr. Newsom said school closures, which are being decided at the local level, now affect 80 to 85 percent of all schoolchildren in the state.
But Mr. Newsom left open the possibility for stricter measures in the days to come.But Mr. Newsom left open the possibility for stricter measures in the days to come.
The governor also announced that a pilot project to screen people for coronavirus testing would begin Monday in two counties in Silicon Valley.The governor also announced that a pilot project to screen people for coronavirus testing would begin Monday in two counties in Silicon Valley.
The project is being carried out by Verily, a life sciences subsidiary of Google’s parent company, and was mentioned by President Trump last week, causing executives at the technology giant to scramble to get it running.The project is being carried out by Verily, a life sciences subsidiary of Google’s parent company, and was mentioned by President Trump last week, causing executives at the technology giant to scramble to get it running.
The project will set up an online survey that gives participants a score indicating whether they should be tested for the virus. The pilot project will take place in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, where the number of cases has surged in recent days.The project will set up an online survey that gives participants a score indicating whether they should be tested for the virus. The pilot project will take place in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, where the number of cases has surged in recent days.