Health

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm A One-way Masker. With Mask Mandates Going Away, Is That Helpful?

Some folks still want to wear a mask in public places to reduce the risk of a coronavirus infection. Here's a guide to one-way masking.

Top text: Feeling awkward in your mask? How to stay cool. Advice from epidemiologist Charlotte Baker. Below this, an illustration of a woman with dark curly hair in a mask sweats and looks worried. Word balloon: "Yikes! I'm the only one in a mask!" To the left, two unmasked people are shown laughing and having fun, with the text "Ha Ha!" To the right, one person sips a drink, another has particles flying out of their mouth. Below these, text: 1. Ignore people. Below this is an illustration of a person with no mask with particles coming out of their mouth speaking with an elderly person. Thought bubbles from the woman with the mask from up above read "Stay calm! It's not my beeswax!" Text: 2. Focus on the task at hand (then get out of there!) Below this the woman is pushing a shopping cart and says to herself "Milk, eggs, bread. I'm out!" Text: 3. Remember why you're wearing a mask in the first place. Below this, the woman points to her mask with a word balloon: "I'm wearing this mask to keep me and my fam safe!"

As California Expands Medi-Cal, Hundreds Of Thousands Of Immigrants Will Still Be Left Behind

Many working undocumented immigrants won’t qualify for state health insurance even if they don’t earn a living wage. That leaves them with few viable options for coverage.

A health care worker wears a stethoscope and places it on the back of a seated patient.

CDC Says Americans Can Now Go Unmasked In Many Parts Of The Country

The CDC recommends continued mask use in communities where serious cases of COVID-19 are straining the health system.

A close-up of Dr. Rochelle Walensky at a microphone in a hearing room.

Long Beach, Pasadena Choose Looser Mask Rules Than LA County

Long Beach and Pasadena will have more lenient regulations than the rest of the county.

COVID-19 Has Turned Deadlier For Black Californians, Who Have The State’s Lowest Vaccination Rate

California’s African Americans are dying from COVID at a higher rate now. And they make up a disproportionate and growing share of the death toll for middle-aged Californians.

A man wearing a mask sits with his left shirt sleeve raised as a health worker gives him a COVID shot outdoors.

An $80,000 Tab for Newborns Highlights A Loophole In The New Law to Curb Surprise Bills

Total Bill: $117,084. The hospital was out of network for the infants. Cigna paid for some of Scarlett’s care, for reasons the Bulls couldn’t figure out. The Bulls were left on the hook for about $80,000, for both babies.

Two parents holding their children in chairs by a plant

LA County Lifts Mask Requirements For Vaccinated At Businesses With Verification

Starting Friday, businesses and other locations that verify vaccination status can offer optional masking for fully vaccinated people.

A window reflects the image of a woman wearing a mask walking toward the building. A red sign on the window reads "COVID-19 updates" with the Spanish translation below: "Actualizaciones de COVID-19."

‘We Don’t Count’: The Californians Who Can’t Return To Normal As COVID Fatigue Grips State

Millions of Californians at high risk from conditions like heart disease, autoimmune disorders and diabetes feel unprotected and forgotten as the state rolls back its COVID orders.

A polished-looking middle-aged woman with dark hair and brown skin sits down and gazes to the side of the picture. She appears to be in an office, with a file cabinet behind her as well as informative posters on the walls.

More Contagious Version Of Omicron Spreads In U.S., Fueling Worries

The omicron BA.2 variant spreads about 30% more easily and has caused surges in other countries. Its steady increase in the U.S. raises questions about the wisdom of rolling back COVID restrictions.

Two bins filled with COVID testing supplies sit side by side. On the left is a bin of red-capped vials containing testing fluid. On the right are unopened packages of nasal swabs.

‘SMARTER’: Newsom Administration Outlines Future Plans For COVID

Newsom’s health secretary unveiled a “SMARTER” preparedness plan, including stockpiling masks and tests. But has the state learned lessons from its erratic handling of the pandemic?

A person in a light blue smock, wearing blue gloves, a white mask, and a head covering, with a portion of a COVID test in his hand and a purple bag over his shoulder, stands inside the open door of a car, the window down. In the car, a woman whose face is partially obscured wears a white mask below her nose and holds a white swab. There is a black basket on top of the black car that contains some sort of soap/hand sanitizer dispenser, along with a number of other items. A white and brown building is in the background, as well as what appears to be a fence, some palm trees, orange stanchions, other vehicles, and a larger white and off-brown building.

California Eyes End To Medi-Cal Premiums For Children, Vulnerable Adults

The governor’s budget and a bill by a Democratic lawmaker would stop the state from charging more than 500,000 Californians a monthly premium for their Medi-Cal health coverage.

A health care worker sits across from a parent and child in a cubicle

LA Community Clinics Say Pandemic Funding Woes ‘At Breaking Point’

A new state senate bill aims to shore up funding for the clinics.

An image of a health worker wearing a black shirt injecting the COVID-19 vaccine into a woman's arm, who is wearing a ponytail and a light blue shirt.

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