Today, Monday, May 4th, Governor Newsom began his briefing by announcing California has entered into a partnership with UC San Francisco and UCLA to provide a virtual training academy related to contact tracing. The effort will recruit “disease detectives” who will be trained to support the existing workforce of 2,845, which will advance the contact tracing regime that will dramatically increase the state’s capacity contain the Covid-19 virus.
The training program consists of 12 hours of online education and 8 hours of in-person training led by UCSF and UCLA. The program is organized to scale up to train 3,000 people every week. Plans include training 10,000 people in Phase One and an additional 20,000 in Phase Two. The first cohort group is scheduled to begin instruction on May 7.
The Governor noted the state’s 58 counties and three city health districts (Long Beach, Pasadena, and Berkeley) do conduct some form of contact disease tracing and have done so through many health crises, including STDs, HIV/AIDS, and SARS. He did note 22 counties are actively tracing the Covid-19 virus.
Governor Newsom emphasized the counties are the lead in utilization of this workforce, so they are able to manage workforce surge needs. County health officials will lead all field work and manage the database. This program is also designed to provide integration and information sharing among the counties and state officials. This program is paid for with a combination of state and federal funds, with the majority of funding coming from the federal government.
Stage 2: Opening the economy and modifying the stay-at-home order
Governor Newsom went into detail regarding movement into Stage 2 of the stay-at-home order, noting on May 7, the state will publish specific guidelines for moving into Stage 2, and some counties could move into that Stage as soon as May 8. The Governor stated, “if these criteria are met through self-certification by public health officials in concurrence with county supervisors, we will allow additional movement in Stage 2, which will include restaurants and hospitality with modifications.” He noted Stage 2 is identified as lower-risk businesses in the retail sector and includes such retailers as, clothing, music, sporting goods, florists, and toys. These businesses will follow guidelines for curb-side pick-up. This phase also includes supply chain support for these retail businesses, such as manufacturing and logistics.
The key takeaway from the Governor today is that the state is moving into Stage 2 beginning May 8, with low-risk businesses, once the county has a self-certified plan approved by their Department of Public Health in concurrence with their local County Supervisor.
The Governor said the state is also allowing containment and protection plans in some regions, such as rural areas; however, they are still required to submit a certified plan approved by their County Supervisor(s) that addresses, social distancing, sanitation, and tracing. Communities are able demonstrate their effort to protect the most vulnerable populations, such as seniors in communal living facilities and the homeless.
Governor Newsome thanked the communities of Laguna and San Clemente for their leadership and partnership in working over the weekend to develop a plan that will allow those beaches to open this weekend.
The Governor explained that if counties are able to meet the criteria through self-certification by their public health official in concurrence with their local Supervisor the state will allow further movement into Phase II, which includes restaurants and the hospitality industry with modifications to protect public health and eliminate the spread of Covid-19. Governor Newsome noted many counties have already completed a substantial amount of work in the area of modifications to meet Phase II requirements and he anticipates several will be ready to go at the end of the week. He also emphasized certifications will be done through the California Department of Public Health.
The Governor also noted once this phase begins, active monitoring of virial activity starts, and he made the point that if community spread of Covid-19 occurs, the state is prepared to adjust the stay-at-home order to limit and stop the spread of the virus. He noted communities, business owners, and local officials must understand the situation is fluid and if the data suggests the state needs to “claw back” the expansion of Phase II, officials will do what is necessary to protect public health.
The Governor also noted those jurisdictions that choose to NOT expand into Stage 2, may do so. There is no mandate to move forward if a local community is not prepared to do so at the end of the week.
Governor Newsom turned the podium over to Dr. Sonia Angell, Director of the State Department of Public Health, to further explain the training academy and expansion into Stage 2 later this week.
Dr. Angell noted that the data and public behavior to contain the virus is allowing the state to move into Stage 2. She reminded everyone that the following criteria were met:
- Ensure ability to care for sick in hospitals
- PPE inventory is sufficient
- Prevent infection among those at high risk
- Build capacity to care for all Californians
- Reduce social, emotional, and economic disruptions
Dr. Angell presented the “Reopening Road Map Report Card”, which illustrated that the state has met the above criteria. The Report Card is attached for your reference.
- Stability in the hospitals has been achieved
- The PPE inventory is stable with more than 18.2 million surgical masks, 5.8 million face shields, and 7.2 million gloves distributed throughout the state.
- Hundreds of millions of surgical N95 masks have been ordered
- Testing capacity has exceeded the 25,000 per day. Now averaging 30,000 per day and growing.
- 14 additional facilities statewide are ready to accept patients to handle surge.
- 2,072 bed ready to accept patients
- 10,000 ventilators through the state are not in use
- 9,400 applications to California Health Corps provides staffing surge capacity
Dr. Angell elaborated on the contact tracing plan noting the following guidelines:
- Contact tracing will be managed through a data management platform
- It will focus on confidentiality and health
- It will support both case investigation and contact tracing
- Interoperability with disease surveillance system
- Supports symptom checks via text, chat, email and phone authorization.
Governor Newsom returned to the podium and noted first that the county readiness plans will be public information and published through the California Department of Public Health.
The Governor also spoke to the issue of some businesses, as reported by media, are defying the state stay-at-home order and some restaurants and bars opened for business. He noted that 81 businesses were contacted by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which informed the businesses that their licenses could be jeopardized by deifying the order. The Governor reported all 81 have since closed and are complying with the order. He reiterated that authorities do not want to be “heavy handed” but businesses must know there are consequences for not following the order and endangering public health.
The Governor noted he hoped everyone recognizes the spirit of the order, which is to protect public health and compliance will result in moving forward to expand Stage 2. Governor Newsome noted that 39 people have died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, which is a substantial decrease from previous days and the ICU had only a .9% increase, less than 1%, which is also an important measure. Further, people under investigation for having symptoms of Covid-19 has also dropped.
The Governor thanked everyone for following the stay-at-home order and practicing social distancing.
The Governor closed by noting that the unemployment claims are still being processed as quickly as possible and reiterated the state has paid $7.8 billion and 4.1 million claims have been processed.
He closed by noting that the state budget will be a challenge, as the cost of this pandemic is substantial.
Q&A
Ranged from consequences of not complying with the state order to what is the Western States Pact working on. The question of interest to many is about contact tracing and which states are working on it already.
AP asked if the Governor could elaborate on the point that 22 counties are already doing contact tracing and name some of them. Dr. Mark Ghady, Secretary of Health, responded noting they include Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area Counties. He also noted they will post all of those counties soon
Covid-19 Numbers can be found here. They include:
- More than 2,254 deaths (1.8% increase)
- Last 24-hours 91 people died.
- 54,937 positive cases (2.5% increase)
- 747,847 tests conducted and that is not enough.
- Averaging 30,000 as of this past weekend. Working to grow this number
- 1,192 ICU numbers were flat again with a .9% increase.
- People under investigation for infection dropped
State Legislature: The State Assembly returned to session today, holding two budget subcommittee hearings, as well as, a policy hearing by the Assembly Transportation Committee. Additional policy hearings are schedule this week. The State Senate is due to return to Sacramento next week. The Senate has also schedule a Special Committee On Pandemic Emergency Response for this coming Wednesday, May 6th.