Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell, laid out an update on California’s Roadmap to Pandemic Resilience, which discusses how the state is planning its path forward – in phases based on science, health and data. The state is in Stage 1, working on making the essential workforce environment safe, and we are working towards reopening lower risk workplaces including retail, manufacturing and offices where telework is not possible. You can view the presentation here.
Colorado and Nevada joined the Western States Pact with California, Oregon, and Washington to agree on a shared vision for reopening their economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future. Four shared goals to control the virus have been outlined by the Governors:
Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Ensuring an ability to care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This will require adequate hospital surge capacity and supplies of personal protective equipment.
Mitigating the non-direct COVID-19 health impacts, particularly on disadvantaged communities.
Protecting the general public by ensuring any successful lifting of interventions includes the development of a system for testing, tracking and isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.
On International Workers’ Day May 1st, Governor Gavin Newsom recognized the contributions and sacrifice of California’s essential workforce, and outlined efforts the state has made to support workers affected by COVID-19, including those who have lost their jobs. You can read more about these efforts here.
The Governor released a Report Card showing how the state has made progress in fighting COVID-19 in a number of categories such as stabilized hospitalization and ICU numbers and acquiring PPE.
The Governor’s Report Card indicates California is on track to move into the early phase of Stage 2 of reopening this Friday, May 8. Stage 2 allows gradual reopening of lower-risk workplaces with adaptations including bookstores, clothing stores, florists and sporting goods stores, with modifications.
The Governor also announced that while the state is moving into Stage 2 together, counties can move more quickly through Stage 2, if they attest that they meet the state’s readiness criteria, which will be outlined by the State Public Health Officer.
Gov. Newsom signed an executive order stating that workers who contract COVID-19 while on the job may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation.
Pfizer Announces First Participants Dosed in Clinical Trial Program for a Potential #COVID19 Vaccine
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced this week that the first participants have been dosed in the U.S. in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the BNT162 vaccine program to prevent COVID-19. The trial is part of a global development program, and the dosing of the first cohort in Germany was completed last week. The Phase 1/2 study is designed to determine the safety, immunogenicity and optimal dose level of four mRNA vaccine candidates evaluated in a single, continuous study. In anticipation of a successful clinical development program, Pfizer and BioNTech are working to scale up production for global supply. Read the press release here.
Marilyn Stebbins – My COVID-19 Journey
As we absorb the daily news of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us—especially in California where an order to shelter in place was declared early on by Governor Gavin Newsom—have little first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to be a COVID-19 patient in the midst of the pandemic. Marilyn Stebbins, PharmD, a UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy faculty member was not so fortunate. She shares her story here.
Podcast- Last In Line: Chronic Illness
(Source: Patients Rising): Many patients with
chronic illnesses have had their treatments delayed or postponed as healthcare
shifts its focus to COVID-19. Lifesaving procedures for the chronically ill
have been put on the backburner. How does the healthcare system prioritize who
is worth immediate care, and what does that mean for the patients put at the
end of the line? On
this episode, hosts discuss these moral dilemmas in healthcare with the help of
Dr. Camosy, a professor of bioethics. And Kate speaks with Jennifer McNary, a
mother fighting against ICER’s pricing roadblocks in order to get her sons’
access to treatment for Duchenne Muscular Atrophy.
CDC Releases New COVID-19 Guidance for Older Adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have
released new guidance for older adults in the time of COVID-19, including:
Running Essential Errands Safely
People Who Need to Take Extra Precautions
Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
Information When Living in Shared Housing
Shared Housing for Owners
May is Older Californians Month
This year’s theme is Make your Mark! Throughout the month, the California Department of Aging (CDA) will share stories of older adults from across California who are making their mark during the pandemic. Follow @CalAging on Twitter and @CaliforniaAging on Facebook to be inspired and join the conversation. Visit the webpage for more information on how to participate and celebrate.
Keep up with all of the efforts by the industry to address the COVID-19 pandemic by checking out:
