Wednesday, September 02, 2020

CoViD-19 County & State Stats | Gov. Newsom Explains Eviction Protections | SDSU Closes In-Person Classes For 4 Weeks | Last Chance For Fair Food | Photos: Dog Beach

Social Distancing at OB Dog Beach (Taken 9.2.2020)

I got up pretty early this morning since the plumbers were back demolishing the downstairs bathroom. There were state and county briefings today and there was a lot of information, so all the notes on those are below. 
We're kinda planning ahead to be home all weekend to avoid holiday crowds, so Darren tackled all of our household laundry, and since Nova still has a minimum days on Wednesday-- even when distance learning-- we decided to get the dog to the beach. We were initially headed toward Fiesta Island but thought since it was overcast, OB might be chill enough. The parking was almost enough to deter us, but it ended up being just fine and we could distance from everyone else most of the time (even if at times the dogs didn't). 
Darren and I have a speakeasy night planned ahead of us so I'll be sleeping in tomorrow and certainly enjoying the break from media briefings. I'd like to think that emails will slow down the next few days, but somehow I doubt it. 

  • California Media Briefing
    • Eviction Legislation
      • Job losses lead to missed rent
      • Renters have experienced 50-66% drop in income
      • 5.4 million renters at risk
      • *No evictions for rent non-payment until Feb 1, 2021*
      • People should at least pay partial rent payment for next five months (25%)
      • Renters must sign a declaration of inability to pay
      • Protections for small property owners and homeowners
        • Expand homeowner bill of rights
        • Expand borrower rights
      • New website HousingIsKey.com or LaViviendaEsClave.com provides guidance for landlords, tenants, homeowners:
        • New eviction framework & protections
        • Toolkits, legal aid resources, etc
      • State guidance goes further than Federal protections and are unaffected by Federal guidelines issued
      • Local ordinances are not impacted by federal or state guidelines
    • California is Committed to Ending Homelessness
      • 2019-2020 Budget was $1billion
      • 2020-2021 Budget is $1.25billion
        • $628million emergency aid for homelessness to cities and counties
        • $600million for Project Homekey
          • Over 22,200 people served since April
          • 16,400 rooms | 344 hotels | 55 counties | 3 tribes
          • 1,345 trailers delivered to 26 counties and 2 tribes
        • $600 million to purchase hotel/motels, apartment buildings
        • 138 applications received from 67 jurisdictions
        • Units must be acquired by end of the calendar year, per unit cost is actually tracking at below original cost estimates
      • Traditionally, homelessness has been dealt with by cities and counties
    • Wildfires
      • 14,900+ firefighters | 1,900 Engines
      • 900 fires across the state | 1.5 m
      • illion acres burned
      • 8 fatalities identified
      • 3100+ identified structures destroyed 
    • California COVID-19 Stats:
      • 4,255 New Cases/4,708 7-day Average/712,052 Total Cases (0.6% increase)
      • 145 New Deaths/13,163 Total Deaths (1.1% increase)
      • 5.1% 14-day test positivity rate/4.5% 7-day test positivity rate
      • 23% decline in hospitalizations
      • 23% decline in ICU admissions
    • Media Questions
      • Legislature can be called back for emergency legislation
      • Housing bill by Atkins failed but hoping to move quickly in new session
      • Theme parks were bracketed. Progress is still being made, but can't make discussions public at this time
      • EDD fraud is a concern, working with local, state, and federal agencies to weed out fraud. 5 new people at EDD to "get under the hood" of this problem to see how widespread the problem is. 
      • Additional $300/week must be implemented by September 10.
      • Local jurisdictions can look at modified existing uses of buildings, i.e. commercial properties converting to housing
      • Not all programs work, we need more accountability and transparency of providers, agencies, and jurisdictions. Can't keep doing what has been done. California expects better results. Hotel conversions must happen in months, not years. 
      • The next 62 days will be about distractions, unfortunately not focused on important things like health care (ACA). State will continue to focus on medical/medicare, California generics to reduce prescriptions costs, expand coverage with subsidies
  • San Diego County Media Briefing with Nathan Fletcher, Dr. Wooten, Dr. McDonald, SDSU Student Affairs representatives
    • Cox meeting with EPA discussing cross-border sewage
    • A word of caution for holiday weekend: one of the most dangerous settings is indoor mixing of households. There's really no way to enforce, so it is incumbent upon the public's cooperation. We want to protect people and protect lives. 
    • Expecting a heat wave this weekend. Cool zones will be available at county libraries Saturday-Monday, Noon-5pm. 
    • All county libraries will be open for in-person use starting 9/10, with a brief midday closure for sanitization
    • COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO COVID-19 STATS:
      • State Data:
        • 267 New Cases (Last 14 Days)/38,873 Total Cases
        • 6 Deaths (Last 14 Days)/688 Total Deaths
        • 5.8 cases/100k population (Data is from 8/31. Will be reassessed on 9/8)
        • 3.7% Test Positivity (Last 14 Days. Data is from 8/31. Will be reassessed on 9/8)
      • County Data:
        • 250 New Cases/39,121 Total Cases 
        • 7 New Daily Deaths/695 Total Deaths
        • 5.8 cases/100k population (Case Rate now excludes jails/prisons inmates)
        • 3% Daily Test Positivity/3.8% Test Positivity (14-day average)/3.8% Test Positivity (7-day average with a 7-day lag)
        • Case Investigation is 95%
        • 3 New/18 Community Outbreaks (7-day)/66 Active Outbreaks
        • 18: 4 restaurant/bar, 1 residence, 8 businesses, 
        • Community Outbreaks: 93 in July | 85 in August
        • 59% of cases 20-49 year olds
        • About 4500 or 10.6% of cases are 0-19 years
      • SDSU 
        • 64 confirmed & probable cases among students since Aug 24 as of close of business Tuesday. Not all students have been on-site. 38 have had on-campus contact, though for many it was just for testing.  
        • A little over 100 students are currently quarantined
        • No current numbers of staff or faculty known to be quarantined 
        • Community transmission believed to be main cause, but definitely some outbreaks on campus
        • Cases may not necessarily all be related 
        • We expect more cases into triple digits
        • Students (and all public) should not be having or participating non-essential gatherings
        • All classes will be moved to virtual for at least the next 4 weeks (approximately 200 lab classes were in-person but will be put on hold)
        • SDSU "Flex" Model allowed for teachers to go online only
        • On campus residents are welcome to stay. If students want to move off-campus, they're permitted to do so. 
        • 130 isolation rooms allotted for students who must isolate including isolation kits with toilet paper, sanitizer, food delivery, etc.
        • Indoor library access is restricted
        • 1,000 outdoor seating spaces are still available with campus wi-fi
        • SDSU Athletics will pause for a 2-week period as of 9/3
        • Addressing off-campus concerns 
          • Private security on weekends and weekdays
          • On campus wellness ambassadors reminding about masks & distancing
        • County Works with SDSU to Address Rising Cases on Campus: The County is working with San Diego State University to respond to a spike in COVID-19 cases in students who are enrolled in classes at the university. Since the beginning of the fall semester on Aug. 24, the university has reported 64 confirmed and probable cases in students who live on and off campus. - County News Center (9.2.2020)
      • Media questions:
        • It is better for someone who is known to be infectious to be completely isolated, instead of going home to families which increases risk
        • Metrics for SDSU to return after 4 weeks will look at cases, tests, positivity rate. Campus can do 100 tests/day, also partnership with county for testing.
        • Children can transmit the disease and schools should continue to adhere to State and County guidelines. 
        • People complaining about login. Businesses must keep for 3 weeks. Do not feel it limits personal rights. It helps in contact tracing if individuals test positive and an outbreak is being assessed. 
        • Reality is that visitors will come to the county. Counting on entities and businesses to follow the guidance: mask enforcement, distancing, logging of customers
        • Face shields can replace face coverings only for medical necessity and must have drapery along the bottom. Some face shields are used out of necessity for daycares, for example, for reading lips or expressions
      • Next briefing will be on 9/9 at 2:30pm. This will be after the next state assessment of case rate & positivity rates
  • COVID-19 News:
    • This is an important message going into Labor Day weekend. It's from LA County, where community transmission is still very high, but it applies to the whole state where we still have significant spread:
      The following examples of in-person gatherings are not permitted, even if they feel safe: celebrating the new arrival of a baby with a baby shower or gender reveal party; having a barbeque with a group of friends in the backyard for Labor Day; hosting a study group with school students; having dinner with extended family and friends to honor the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur); gathering at the beach with friends over the hot weekend. These types of gatherings are risky as they bring together people who do not live together and increase the chances of community transmission.
    • The Flagrant Hypocrisy of Bungled College Reopenings: Higher education has ignored its main mission: to teach critical thinking. It's time to take the adults back to school. - Wired (9.2.2020)
    • The CDC has failed: Ex-health officials urge states to abandon agency: In the void of “sensible guidance from the CDC,” states and leaders need to act. - ARS Technica (9.1.2020)
  • Politics/Racial Justice/General News:
  • Events/Information:

Compilation Art by Shepard Fairey

We hit up OB dog beach before Labor Day Weekend and while the lots and entrance were pretty crowded and lots of people were hanging right around the lifeguard tower, it was pretty easy to find our own space on the sandbar. 























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