California Promises Guidance On Wearing Masks In Daily Life, Newsom Gives Coronavirus Update
By Mike Roe
Published Mar 31, 2020 12:48 PM
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom is scheduled announce an initiative to help older Californians stay connected while staying at home due to the novel coronavirus. He'll also be delivering additional updates as part of his daily press conference on California's response to COVID-19.
You can watch the live video above and follow this post for updates.
There are 6,932 people positive for coronavirus in California, Newsom said, with 150 deaths. There are 1,617 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including 657 in the ICU. That's a 17% increase in positives, 13% increase in hospitalizations, and 10% increase in ICU patients since yesterday.
Power great local fact-checked coverage today. Your support ensures everyone in your community has paywall-free access to developing coronavirus news and everything LAist has to offer. Donate now. STATE GUIDANCE ON WEARING MASKS COMING
The state is considering guidance around whether people beyond the medical profession should wear some sort of mask or face covering, including in professions like grocery store workers, Newsom said. The science is incomplete in this area, according to Newsom, and there is a concern that people will think masks are a replacement for social distancing, which they aren't.
That guidance on masks should be expected within 24 hours, according to Newsom.
[UPDATE: Riverside County on Tuesday issued guidance to cover your face:
SCHOOLS REOPENING?
An announcement on whether schools will reopen this school year from the state superintendent is expected in the next one to two days, according to Newsom.
MORE VENTILATORS, BEDS
Virgin Orbit in Long Beach is prototyping less complex ventilators that can be used, with a prototype being delivered to the state operations center in the next 48 hours, according to Newsom. There have been 4,252 ventilators identified in the state so far, with a goal of having about 10,000 ventilators available. The state has requests out to acquire about another 5,000 ventilators.
There are 5,000 beds that have been identified in the UC and CSU university systems that could be used as part of a phase two ramp-up.
The state is working to connect seniors during this time of social distancing, Newsom said. A new hotline has been set up to help people get questions answered and find ways to support those people. The phone number is 833-544-2374. The state has also partnered with the 2-1-1 service to help connect people to services.
Newsom encouraged people to check in on not just people they know, but also strangers at this time.
Fentanyl and other drugs fuel record deaths among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. From 2019 to 2021, deaths jumped 70% to more than 2,200 in a single year.
