After a weekend that saw many Californians head to parks or beaches for a respite from home isolation, that may not be an option for much longer, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
He also hinted that a prolonged period of social distancing may be required to help slow the coronavirus — a message that differs from President Trump’s stated aim to get back to normal sooner rather than later.
Here are five of the top storylines from Monday’s news:
1. Newsom said Monday evening that because of that high outdoor turnout, appropriate social distancing was next to impossible for those at parks or beaches. In an effort to curb the crowds and avoid coronavirus spread, he announced that parking will be closed at all state parks and beaches. East Bay Parks could also shut down due to overcrowding.
Newsom also said that the state is gathering resources to battle the epidemic, but acknowledged that much more must be done. The state needs 50,000 more hospital beds and hundreds of millions of hospital gowns, masks and gloves to effectively treat patients. He added that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made good on a promise to acquire 1,000 ventilators, and several California companies are pitching in to produce personal protective equipment for health care workers.
San Francisco has 8,500 potential hotel rooms that will be available to health care workers and homeless people needing to self-isolate.
2. Three Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies tested positive for the novel coronavirus, one of whom is hospitalized in stable condition. The remaining two deputies are self-isolating, the sheriff’s office said. The county also announced three more deaths due to the virus, bringing its total to 13 with 321 confirmed cases. Alameda County also saw its first death, health officials said, as the Bay Area’s death toll rose to 17.
Two Milpitas firefighters also tested positive, and several more are quarantined while awaiting test results after an exposure. A state inmate tested positive as well, in addition to three extant cases among California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff.
Coronavirus Maps: California county-by-county | Bay Area county totals
3. Officials in Santa Clara County and San Jose announced a $11 million relief fund for those who lose work due to the outbreak and ensuing shutdown.
Zoom, Adobe, Facebook and Cisco have donated to that fund, which aims to help those who make less than 80% of the average median income in the county.
4. For those wondering if they’re buying enough food during their grocery runs, FEMA has some new guidelines. The agency suggests that healthy families should buy one week’s worth of groceries.
As grocery stores are slammed by shoppers, workers at Safeway and other chains owned by Albertsons Co. have seen raises of $2 per hour. Smart & Final and Target also announced temporary raises to support workers dealing with high demand.
5. A public COVID-19 testing center opened in Hayward Monday at a fire station, drawing hundreds of people who believe they may be infected.
The tests, administered by Hayward firefighters and paramedics were free, but required a temperature of 100.4. The city partnered with Avellino Labs of Menlo Park to open the site.
Bonus: Hundreds of Bay Area restaurants are still open for business through takeout and delivery options. We’ve continued adding to our list of restaurants where you can get a bite and support a small business — check it out here.
