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COVID-19: California to take "drastic" action on rising contagion

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COVID-19: California to take "drastic" action on rising contagion
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

There's no subtle way to say this: California is likely to take drastic or highly restrictive measures in response to the increase in positive cases of COVID-19it is possible that the hospitals will be overwhelmed for the disease before Christmas, according to state governor Gavin Newsom.

This is almost a fact, California is the third state most affected by the disease, with 19,304 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

The projections presented by Newsom last Monday during its press conference are not encouraging, as it noted that the intensive care units will be overloaded by mid-December, despite all the efforts that have been made to stop the spread of the disease.

As for SARS-CoV-2 infections, the state registered 1,246,042 cases, of which 15,778 were registered yesterday, December 1, a figure very close to the highest registered in California, which amounted to 16,990 cases on November 24.

"We did not anticipate this... I want the population to know that we intend to bend this proverbial curve," the governor said.

The map presented by the State Health Department is practically purple, the most restrictive level so far, with measures ranging from closing establishments to a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am, and these could get worse until they get orders to stay completely at home.

Entire counties have been severely affected by the increase in cases, which has led to measures that have also diminished the economy and even mental health, as the quarantine has already taken its toll with cases of depression.

The situation even reached the sports world, as the Forty-nine San Francisco residents, who have their home in Santa Clara County, have had to moveat least their next two home games, to the Cardinals' home in Arizona.

Until a couple of weeks ago, California seemed to have made progress in controlling the virus; however, a wave arrived without warning and hit tremendously, as last Sunday it became the first state to register more than 100,000 cases in the week of Nov. 22-28, according to data from JHU.

According to California Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly, last weekend, several state officials held meetings with local leaders and health care providers to discuss their concerns about the rising numbers and the direction things are taking.

"Everything is on the table, in terms of how we guide the state through this," he said.

The head of state health also said that the measures taken are to ensure that they are as forceful and limited in time as possible.

It should be noted that the most affected continues to be the Latino population, with 58.7 percent of positive cases occurring in the Latino community, as well as 48.5 percent of deaths recorded from the virusAccording to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

They are followed by Caucasians with 19.2 percent of the cases positive for COVID-19, and 30.4 percent of the deaths; while Asian Americans are the third largest group with 5.8 percent of the cases and 11.7 percent of the deaths.

In response, Newsom noted that retired or part-time health care workers would be willing to return to work, and that steps are already being taken to do so, as well as the rapid construction of eleven urgent care facilities to receive patients.

In the area of vaccines, which are already outlined in Pfizer and Moderna to reach the market by the end of DecemberDue to an emergency request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing, first-line health care workers are expected to receive the first doses in the middle of this month.

However, assistance from the federal government will be necessary to cushion the economic havoc that the pandemic is wreaking, the state leader said, adding that urgent action by Congress is imperative.

At the national level, there are 13,721,304 confirmed cases by COVID-19 and, as a result, 270,242 deaths. This Tuesday, December 1, more than 180,000 new cases and 2,597 regrettable deaths were recorded.

COVID-19: Clinical Terms You Should Know

Peninsula 360 Press
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COVID-19: Clinical Terms You Should Know
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

Almost nine months after the declaration of the pandemic by COVID-19, the number of infections and deaths is increasing, as well as the doubts in clinical terms, since it is often complicated to understand the documents that come out every day regarding the virus.

Below you will find a series of words that will help you better understand the terminology that is so necessary today - and because of the pandemic. 

  • Efficiency and Effectiveness

Both terms are often used interchangeably in the context of drugs or, now, in the performance of COVID-19 vaccines, especially in clinical trials, but there are key differences in both words.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), efficacy refers to the performance under ideal circumstances, in this case, of a vaccine in clinical trials.

Instead, effectiveness refers more broadly to how the vaccine meets standards for success in the "real world" after it has been released for consumer use; this provides a more realistic picture of a vaccine.

  • Quarantine and Isolation

The two words have been used very often over the past nine months, especially for actions to be taken when there has been exposure to COVID-19, however, they do not mean the same thing.

The quarantine does not specifically refer to 40 days, but to separation and restriction of movement for people who were exposed to a disease, in order to see if they get sick. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that in the case of COVID-19, it is for those who have come in contact with a known case of the virus, but are not yet showing symptoms, so that person will remain at home and away from others for 14 days after a risky exposure.

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from those who are not sick. 

In this way, isolation usually means that the individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is kept away from others - isolated - so as not to infect them, and is usually done inside the home, away from other members of the household.

Note that if several people in a household have confirmed VIDOC-19, it is okay to isolate them together, while if only one member tests positive, that person should be isolated from the others in the household and all members should be quarantined for 14 days.

  • Asymptomatic vs. Pre-symptomatic

VOCID-19 disease can range from mild to very severe symptoms requiring hospitalization, however there is a big difference between someone who has an asymptomatic case and someone who is pre-symptomatic.

Asymptomatic people test positive for 19-COVID, but "no symptoms indicating a SARS-CoV-2 infection," but some people may develop symptoms days after a positive test.

These individuals would be classified as pre-symptomatic at the time of their positive test and will eventually develop symptoms, according to the NIH.

  • Epidemic vs. Pandemic

The difference between an epidemic and a pandemic is the degree to which, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an epidemic occurs when there is a rise in cases of illness above normal in a limited population or area - for example, a single country - whereas an epidemic can become a pandemic if it spreads to several different countries or continents.

  • Outbreak vs. Cluster

The CDC also explains that epidemic and outbreak are two terms that can actually be used interchangeably for the most part, although an outbreak is generally used to define a smaller specific geographic area. 

Clustering, on the other hand, often refers to outbreaks on small, specific scales, over a period of time, within a defined location.

  • Community Propagation vs. Transmission

Transmission is technically used to describe how SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads from person to person; however, community spread is a term used to describe what happens when the disease spreads significantly in a given population without a clear source, refers the CDC.

  • Mortality Rate vs.

These terms are often among the most confusing, but there are important differences in both. The mortality rate is calculated by reference to the total population, while the fatality rate only takes into account people affected by a given disease.

Thus, in the case of COVID-19, the case fatality rate -CFR-, is the specific number of people with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who die as a result of the disease. An example of this is: out of every thousand people diagnosed with COVID-19, one person dies.

On the other hand, the mortality rate is a more general approximation of the number of deaths that occur within a larger or certain population, such as that of an entire country, said the World Health Organization -WHO-.

An example would be: Out of a population of 100,000 people, two die from COVID-19.

  • ICU and hospitalization rate - intensive care unit - vs. capacity

Hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) rates refer to the number of people in a specific area who are hospitalized after a diagnosis of COVID-19, and are compared to the total population of a given area, such as a county, state, or country. 

The capacity of hospitals and ICUs, on the other hand, are statistics that describe the burden by COVID-19. The figures are generally expressed as a percentage: the number of occupied beds divided by the total number of beds.

In this case, it is necessary to point out that hospital capacity is not only a question of beds, but also of the personnel available to attend to patients, the CDC points out.

  • Ventilator and Respirator

Although in Spanish-speaking countries both words refer to the same thing, according to the NIH and the CDC these two devices are not the same, since a ventilator, also known as a mechanical ventilator, is a machine that is generally used in a hospital and that blows air through tubes into the patient's airway.

While a respirator, it is a piece of personal protective equipment, which is worn over the mouth, nose or face to prevent the inhalation of airborne particles, gases or vapors, other than a mask.

In this regard, the CDC notes that N95 respirators are recommended for health care personnel in clinical settings, but not for the average person due to severe shortages of such equipment.

  • Positivity Rate vs. Prevalence

According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the positivity rate, also known as the "percentage positive rate" or "percent positive", is that of all coronavirus tests performed that are actually positive. 

This is an indicator of whether enough testing is being done and whether enough asymptomatic and mild cases are being evaluated, the university notes.

Prevalence, on the other hand, he said, is a specific number of people who have -- or had -- COVID-19 during a specific time period, which reflects the number of truly positive individuals in the entire population, not just those tested. 

In that regard, he noted that prevalence can help researchers and decision-makers understand the broader picture of the spread of such a virus in a specific area or population.

COVID-19: Mexico dies

Peninsula 360 Press
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COVID-19: Mexico dies
Christian Carlos. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

"The Ministry of Health reports this November 28, 2020 that, in Mexico, there are 67,981 active cases and 132,511 suspected cases of COVID-19; 105,400,49 people have died and 73.8 percent of the cases have recovered," is heard in the daily report issued, with the signature of the Government of Mexico, last Sunday after registering the highest number of estimated active cases derived from the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the country.

Almost immediately, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization -WHO- issued an urgent warning, stating that: "The situation in Mexico is very worrying. The numbers show that the country is in a bad situation. When the cases and also the deaths go up it is a very serious problem and we would ask Mexico to be serious. We hope that all the leaders will set an example," replied the WHO on its Spanish Twitter account during the press conference where doctor Michael Joseph Ryan and epidemiologist Maria DeJoseph Van Kerkhove were also present.

The strong call for attention by the United Nations health agency comes a few months late, as the Mexican health authorities have seriously misled the population instead of informing them in a timely manner.

The narrative of the speech in the daily report issued by the Mexican health ministry has changed during the 252 days since the health emergency was declared by COVID-19 in the country. For example, on June 22, when the number of confirmed active cases was barely 23,155, the "traffic light of risk" consisted of four colors: "the color red is high riskorange, medium; yellow, low; and, green, no risk"was heard in the report.

Today, the states of Chiapas and Campeche, Mexico, are in green, which, according to the Mexican government's first narrative, meant that these entities were without risk of contagion; however, the narrative changed the next day, when the phrase: "Remember: the color red is maximum risk; orange, highyellow, low; and, green, no risk."

The deaths are no longer "regrettable"

The change in narrative occurred simultaneously in the Ministry of Health under Vice Minister Hugo López-Gatell and in the presidency of Mexico under Andrés Manuel López Obrador for the second time in less than two days: "Remember: red is maximum risk; orange, high; yellow, medium; and, green, low». Three days were enough to confuse the population: by June 24, the Mexican government subliminally declared that there would be no entities without risk of contagion from COVID-19. The change in narrative didn't stop there.

Since March 26, when the COVID-19 daily case summaries began to be broadcast in the media, they were signed at the end with the words "Government of Mexico".

On June 24, 24,324 "regrettable deaths" were reported, according to the serene voice seal; the next day, the Mexican government, under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, suppressed the sensitive adjective to note that the deaths from coronavirus in the country would not stop. Even so, the government assumed that "lamenting" more than 25,000 deaths could represent a great lack of respect. The families who have lost family members to COVID-19 continue to mourn each of the deaths.

The voice stamp reminding people of the meaning of the colours of the "traffic light of risks" was removed in its entirety on 25 June.

Lopez-Gatell or Lopez Obrador?

The Mexican government's signature suddenly disappeared from the daily summaries as the "risk light" showed constant improvement, specifically on September 4 when only the state of Colima, Mexico, was, according to the narrative, at "maximum risk". From that day on, the Ministry of Health was in charge of signing the daily summaries transmitted by the media -different from the daily press conferences, also known as "technical reports"-. A voice stamp was attached announcing that the improvement in the country was to be attributed specifically to the Ministry of Health and not to the effort of the Government of Mexico.

This trend in the speech threatened the Mexican health ministry again when the second SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Mexico began during the last week of October; specifically, the week of October 30, when nearly 53,000 active cases of COVID-19 were confirmed and the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, went red - maximum risk - at the "risk light".

During the same week, Mexico's Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said that, according to "the scientific evidence"If you have a fever, using a mouthpiece "helps decrease the chance that viruses will get out of a sick person's airway. However, he continued: "The mouthpiece is of no great use in protecting ourselves.". Then, the Mexican media had to measure the statements made by the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion in a press conference. And he continued: "The mouthpiece that several of you are wearing"referring to the journalists present at the conference, "is helping to keep you from infecting someone else in case you're sick."; in contrast, he said right away: "But we must be very aware that the mouthpiece does not help us as a protective barrier on the individual.".

As the number of active cases by COVID-19 in Mexico increased, the narrative passed to the Government of Mexico in recent days, which meant that the Ministry of Health would not sign the data presented daily.

Current Overview

The month of November brought negative consequences for Mexico in terms of increased mobility: the Day of the Dead festivities that are actively celebrated throughout the country and beyond its borders; the event organized by the country's ministry of economy that seeks to support the family economy through formal commerce with offers in stores throughout the country by the program called "El Buen Fin" (The Good End).

It should be noted that during the same period, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, - in orange at the "risk light" - a soccer match was played with an audience.

In this same week, Mexico was the focus of international media attention when it became, on November 20 - the 110th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution - the fourth country to reach the sad figure of 100,000 deaths after the United States, Brazil and India.

It's because of this lack of attention from the federal government that "The Ministry of Health reports this November 30, 2020 that in Mexico there are 61,631 active cases and 149,186 suspected cases of COVID-19; 105,940 people have died and 73.9 percent of the cases have been recovered.The report was signed by the Government of Mexico.

It is because of these statements made by Hugo López-Gatell, the contradictory social communication narrative of the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the lack of vigilance in health measures such as staying at home, the recommended use of mouthguards, practicing physical distancing between people in public spaces - "healthy distance"- that the warning from the WHO demands a response from the Government of Mexico. A serious response, as Tedros Adhanom pointed out.

COVID-19: Modern will call for emergency use of vaccine

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COVID-19: Modern will call for emergency use of vaccine
Editorial office. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The biotechnology company, Moderna, announced Monday that it plans to apply for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and conditional approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for its COVID-19 vaccine.

This is because the main efficacy analysis of the Phase 3 mRNA-1273 study conducted in 196 cases confirms the high efficacy observed in the first interim analysis, as the data indicate an efficacy of 94.1 percent. 

The U.S. company said in a statement that the safety data continues to accumulate and the study continues to be monitored by a Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). 

"This positive primary analysis confirms the ability of our vaccine to prevent COVID-19 disease with an efficacy of 94.1 percent and, more importantly, the ability to prevent severe COVID-19 disease," said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. 

"We believe our vaccine will provide a powerful new tool that can change the course of this pandemic and help prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death," he added.

In turn, the company said it is now planning a phase 3 study, known as the COVE study, for which it has recruited more than 30,000 participants and is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Advanced Biomedical Research and Development Authority.

The primary endpoint of the Phase 3 COVE study, he said, is based on analysis of confirmed and adjudicated COVID-19 cases starting two weeks after the second dose of vaccine. 

"The efficacy of the vaccine has been demonstrated in the first interim analysis with a total of 95 cases according to the pre-set efficacy criteria. Today's primary analysis was based on 196 cases, of which 185 cases of COVID-19 were observed in the placebo group versus 11 cases observed in the mRNA-1273 group, resulting in a point estimate of vaccine efficacy of 94.1 percent," he said.

He added that a secondary endpoint analyzed severe cases of COVID-19 and included 30 severe cases - as defined in the study protocol - in this analysis. 

In that regard, he explained that all 30 cases occurred in the placebo group and none in the mRNA-1273 group, since, to date, there was only one death related to COVID-19 in the study, which occurred in the placebo group.

Moderna explains that effectiveness was consistent across age, race, ethnicity, and gender demographics, as the 196 cases of COVID-19 included 33 older adults - over 65 years old - and 42 participants who identified themselves as belonging to diverse communities - including 29 Hispanics or people from the Latino community, six African Americans, four Asian Americans, and three multiracial participants.

According to the company, it has not identified any new serious safety issues, while, according to a previous analysis, the most common adverse reactions included pain at the injection site, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, headache and erythema/rediness at the injection site. 

"Adverse reactions increased in frequency and severity in the mRNA-1273 group after the second dose," he said.

It is worth noting that the Company has already begun the ongoing review process with the EMA, Health Canada, SwissMedic, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Israel's Ministry of Health and the Health Sciences Authority in Singapore, and intends to seek Pre-Qualification or Emergency Use Listing with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Additionally, Moderna announced that the FDA's Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Related Biological Products will review the safety and efficacy data package for mRNA-1273 likely on Thursday, Dec. 17. 

The Company expects that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will make a recommendation on immunization priorities. 

Moderna anticipates that the shipment of mRNA-1273 to designated distribution points will occur shortly after an emergency use authorization is granted.

By the end of 2020, the Company expects to have approximately 20 million doses of mRNA-1273 available, while it remains on track to manufacture 500 million to 1 billion doses globally by 2021.

HIV and SARS-CoV-2: challenges to be overcome for migrants and Latinos

Pamela Cruz
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HIV and SARS-CoV-2: challenges to be overcome for migrants and Latinos
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

In February 2019, the U.S. government updated its national goals to eradicate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic by 2030, and although there has been significant progress in the fight against it in recent years, this trend has not been reflected in the Hispanic and Latino community.

In addition, another epidemic, SARS-CoV-2, is presenting many challenges, especially for undocumented immigrants, who are more vulnerable to getting sick from COVID-19 because they are afraid to seek medical care due to their immigration status.

On World AIDS Day, which is commemorated on December 1 each year, the National Institute of Health (NIH) reported that there are one million people in the United States who are either HIV-positive or have AIDS. The number of cases reported annually peaked in 1993, when approximately 80,000 people were infected.

While from 2014 to 2018, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the annual number of diagnoses among adults and adolescents decreased by 7.0 percent; however, it has increased among other groups, such as Latinos and Hispanics.

A report from the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health, released in 2019, indicates that although the estimated HIV incidence in the U.S. has decreased 6.0 percent since 2010, among Latino and Hispanic populations, it has increased 14 percent.

Similarly, he reports that the annual number of Latinos newly diagnosed with HIV has increased by 7.0 percent between 2012 and 2016, in contrast to overall new annual HIV diagnoses across the United States, which have decreased by 4.0 percent.

When looking at the number of incidents by community, among the African-American community there has been a drop of 5.0 percent; among Caucasians it dropped 8.0 percent, while among Hispanics and Latinos it had an increase of 7.0 percent.

Within the Hispanic and Latino community, a key population affected by HIV is 13-25 years old, which has seen a 9.0 percent increase in new diagnoses, compared to, for example, African-American youth of the same age, which has fallen 10 percent.

The research also adds that men from the Latino and Spanish-speaking communities who have sex with men represented the greatest increase in estimates of annual infections in terms of race, ethnicity, and therefore are the group with the greatest transmission of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.

Similarly, men aged 25-34 who have sex with other men, and who are of Hispanic or Latino origin, accounted for the largest increase in estimated annual infections of all population groups.

The Center for Adolescent and Family Health adds that some of the drivers of the epidemic may be the stigma associated with HIV, gaps in knowledge about the disease and its risks, distrust of the health care system, lack of health care coverage, as well as homophobia and transphobia.

The disparities among communities with HIV and AIDS are not the only challenge to achieving the goals of defeating the epidemic by 2030. Today, there is another epidemic that has magnified the problems for the Latino community: COVID-19.

According to Heriberto Soto-Sanchez, director of the Hispanic Forum on AIDS, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted services to curb the HIV epidemic, and even threatens the future of organizations fighting to eradicate the disease. 

COVID-19 has exacerbated many challenges that immigrants already face, since in addition to dealing with HIV/AIDS - depending on their case - they have to deal with the stress of finding or keeping their jobs, having enough money to pay for housing expenses, as well as trying to stay alive.

Because, he said, stress can trigger an increase in viral load, which can make a person living with HIV much more susceptible to diseases such as COVID-19, this can be an extremely complex situation. 

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, notes about the pandemic by COVID-19: "We have a unique opportunity to reinvent health systems," so that we are better equipped to create healthier and more resilient societies. 

"We can take advantage of this opportunity and learn from AIDS and COVID-19 to implement substantial changes that will enable us to develop rights-based, equitable and people-centred health systems," he said.

Half Moon Bay: First Latino Immigrant on the Council

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Half Moon Bay: First Latino Immigrant on the Council
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

After years of dealing with discrimination and racism, Joaquin Jimenez, a Mexican by birth, will be the first Latino immigrant to serve on the Half Moon Bay Council..

Little by little, the now California State University sociology graduate made the city his home, since he arrived there when he was just a child, and his passion for the city finally materialized when he won a seat in the last election on Nov. 3.

The 47-year-old Jimenez said he was humbled by the community's support and vowed to fight to represent everyone in Half Moon Bay, including those who have felt excluded in the past. 

Proud of his Latino heritage and community, he said he will represent the voice of the Spanish-speaking community by "implementing their voice.

Currently, Joaquin works with Ayudando Latinos A Sonar, or ALAS, and has been a liaison for Puente de la Costa Sur, a community resource center and outreach coordinator for farmworkers. 

In the past, he co-founded the city's Latino Advisory Council and has worked as a teacher in the Hatch School Immersion Program for the Cabrillo Unified School District. 

He spent 15 years as a juvenile corrections officer in the San Mateo County Juvenile Probation Department.

This was Jimenez's first time running for political office, and with 62.76 percent of the vote, Jimenez defeated Adam Eisen.

On housing, the future city councillor will seek to identify locations for more affordable and sustainable space in the centre of the area, within walking distance of schools, shops, work and clinics. 

He said the city is in contact with property owners in Half Moon Bay to look for possible new housing locations, although the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the search. 

On agriculture and education, he said he wants to find a more sustainable way to farm and protect the environment for future generations, in addition to addressing low Latino graduation rates and improving educational inequities that lead to disadvantaged people living below the poverty line. 

He also wants to have a conversation about implementing ethnic studies into the school's curriculum, and hopes to find trade school opportunities in the area to create the next generation of plumbers and electricians.

COVID-19: Forty-nine change of venue

Pamela Cruz
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COVID-19: Forty-nine change of venue
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

The San Francisco Forty-Niners will play at least their next two home games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, because Santa Clara County announced Saturday new restrictive measures related to COVID-19.

"The Cardinals organization, State Farm Stadium and league officials have been supportive and accommodating as we work through the many logistical issues involved in relocating NFL games," the Bay Area team said in a statement.

As such, the Forty-Niners will host the Buffalo Bills in Arizona for a Monday night game on Dec. 7, as well as Washington on Sunday, Dec. 13. 

The Forty-Niners are still working to define where they will practice for the next few weeks. While their preference is to stay in the Bay Area to practice during the week and fly to Arizona for the games, this plan may not be logistically feasible.

For his part, coach Kyle Shanahan said he was disappointed by the way they found out they would have to find a new home to play in the coming weeks: during their flight to face the Los Angeles Rams over the weekend. 

"I get it: they made that decision and we have to deal with that, but to find out through a tweet or a press conference ... I've got a whole plane coming up to me, wives, girlfriends, family members and kids saying they found out we might be out all of December."

"We are human like everybody else, and it's a big problem to leave your family for the whole of December, a big problem, as everybody knows... We need to find a place where we can feel safe and stay because we won't be able to go to our homes anymore to make them safe. So, we will have to stay in a hotel or somewhere."

Notably, Santa Clara County announced Saturday that the number of residents who have been infected with COVID-19 and the number of hospitalized patients continues to climb significantly, reaching record levels since the start of the pandemic.

On that day alone, 760 new cases and 239 hospitalizations were recorded, of which 71 are in the intensive care unit. So, to reduce the likelihood of an increase in hospitalizations that exceeds the capacity of hospitals, were announced several changes to the directives that accompany the Risk Reduction Order of the Public Health Officer.

The changes include requiring certain sectors to modify their operations to increase security, reducing the number of people allowed on the premises at any one time, and reducing the size of outdoor gatherings.

For professional, collegiate and youth sports, all recreational activities involving physical contact or proximity to persons outside the home, including all contact sports, were temporarily prohibited.

San Mateo: Plastic ban in 2021

Pamela Cruz
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San Mateo: Plastic ban in 2021
Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The city of San Mateo aims to be more friendly to the environment, which is why se seeks a ban on single-use plastic products in restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores that sell prepared food.

This was reported by The Daily Journal, which said that the initiative will be presented to the San Mateo County Council in the first months of 2021.

With this initiative, the newspaper noted, San Mateo will require the use of compostable utensils instead of those made of plastic, and the regulation of these for those products prepared in stores; however, you can continue to buy plastic items for use elsewhere: forks, toothpicks or spoons, among others.

According to the note, the ban would affect 428 establishments in the locality. However, the pandemic and the low attendance at these establishments would allow the owners to gradually adapt to this new modality.

While the initiative will be introduced in late January or early February of next year, the city is expected to begin enforcing the law by 2022, according to the city's deputy mayor, Eric Rodriguez.

The goal of allowing the initiative to take legal effect for up to two years is to ensure that San Mateo restaurants are not disadvantaged and have a plan of action in place prior to implementation.

It was noted that the city plans to meet later this year with restaurateurs and owners of convenience stores and places that sell prepared foods to alert them about possible changes that will take place next year.

The local newspaper said San Mateo County will be responsible for enforcing the ban, including the financial costs, which encouraged the city to participate.

With that said, the City of San Mateo plans to make its ordinance similar to the county's, which passed this year, require the use of compostable non-plastic compostable items instead of plastic products.

According to the initiative, non-plastic components are required for the manufacture of plates, bowls, cups, food trays, boxes, deli containers and other packaging.

Restaurants and stores must also use non-plastic, compostable straws, stirrers, utensils and toothpicks, and accessories such as chopsticks, utensils and condiment sachets would only be provided upon request or in self-service areas.

Councilmembers Diane Papan and Rick Bonilla agreed that, while the measure is good for the future, it is important to start in 2022 to first find solutions to the plastic waste problem.

Finally, they hope that the next year will represent a window of opportunity before the law is enforced, which will help restaurants prepare and give them time to establish alternatives to plastic options, as it is a challenge to run a restaurant at this time.

We Vote: Alicia Aguirre

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We Vote: Alicia Aguirre
Christian Carlos. Peninsula 360 Press.

This week, in the company of our presenters, Connie Guerrero and Rudy EspinozaPeninsula 360 Press brings you another installment of We Vote, an online television show that aims to showcase the San Francisco Peninsula and Bay Area community, local community members, election experts, but most importantly those people, elected through the ballot, who are charged with representing the will of the people, the backbone of our society.

On this occasion, Alicia Aguirre, member of Redwood City Council District 7. She is a professor and PhD in Social Anthropology; she was also the first Latina mayor in the history of the city, this is her last term in office after 30 years of dedicated service to her community.

During the program, Connie Guerrero and Rudy Espinoza, addressed current issues such as the electoral process for the renewal of Council members, as well as the challenges that Alicia Aguirre had to face during her campaign, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, it is important to inform the community about the actions she will take during her last term during the next four years. Alicia Aguirre, talks to us in depth about the three axes that, she says, are key to maintaining the welfare of the community: housing, transportation and attention to our youth, sheltered under a vision of equity.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he says, is an urgent health emergency in Redwood City, as this past week, it has been upgraded to a purple alert - the Public Health Department's highest alert. Aguirre noted the importance of supporting the community in maintaining their businesses, their right to housing and food for vulnerable groups.

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San Mateo passes to Purple level in view of increase in cases by Covid-19

Pamela Cruz
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San Mateo passes to Purple level in view of increase in cases by Covid-19

By Pamela Cruz

The state of California announced that, starting tomorrow, San Mateo County will be upgraded to Purple Level 1, the most restrictive of the Covid-19 reopening measures, in order to prevent an increase in the number of infections.

While the new statewide stay home order, which prohibits county residents from leaving their homes from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am, will take effect on Monday night, November 30.

San Mateo County referred in a statement that under Level 1 restrictions, businesses and activities that had been operating indoors, such as places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and museums, must move outdoors or close. 

Similarly, shopping malls and all retail stores shall operate at no more than 25 percent of their capacity, while indoor meetings between members of different households are prohibited.

When it comes to outdoor meetings, these may include people from only three households, as long as they are held outside of the restricted hours of 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.

According to state officials, more restrictive measures are needed to control the recent increase in reported cases of coronavirus in both the Bay Area and the state as a whole. 

The county health department said there was an 85 percent increase in new cases of VIDOC-19 from October to November, and the drop in the purple level is due to the county's adjusted rate of 7.6 new cases per 100,000 population.

"We haven't seen figures like this in quite a while. We really need to reverse this incredibly worrying trend. We can do that as long as we follow common sense health and safety practices," said County Administrator Mike Callagy.

"We need everyone to do their part to keep our community safe. We urge everyone to stay home for the holidays. I know it's a sacrifice, but the best way to show your family that you love them is to stay home and be safe," he added.

It should be noted that the new order to stay at home is more limited than that of spring. The new order was announced by the state on November 19, came into effect on November 21 and will remain in effect until December 21.

Residents may still go out alone or with members of their own household as long as they do not participate in any interaction with members of other households, or if their employment is essential, such as in grocery stores. 

The order also requires that all non-essential businesses and restaurants, even if they operate outdoors, complete their operations before 10:00 pm. 

Finally, County Health Officer Scott Morrow recommended avoiding travel this season, as one test may be negative due to the incubation period of the virus, but there is still a risk of exposing others to IDV-19. 

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