California Healthline

The number of homicide victims in California jumped 27% from 2019 to 2020, to about 2,300, marking the largest year-over-year increase in three decades, according to the state's preliminary death certificate data.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's surprising choice of Blue Shield to lead the state's COVID vaccination effort raised questions about the role politics played in the decision -- and whether the insurer is up to the task.

The U.S. has fumbled almost every step of its public health response in its battle against COVID-19. Experts say that must change if we're going to outflank the variants emerging as the virus continues to mutate.

In California, the largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history is run largely by the same overworked and underfunded local health departments tasked with covid-19 testing and contact tracing.

COVID infection rates in California are consistently higher in low-income neighborhoods than more affluent areas, according to an analysis by ZIP code.

Ride-sharing and delivery services such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart are bankrolling California's Proposition 22, which would keep their drivers classified as independent contractors, not employees. But health benefits? That's something of a stretch.

Strict enforcement of coronavirus protocols at factories and shops where some of the worst outbreaks have occurred has reduced the racial and ethnic disparities in COVID deaths and illness, say public health officials. They want to expand the effort by creating workplace safety councils.

Respiratory symptoms stemming from coronavirus infection and smoke inhalation are too similar to distinguish without a full workup. This is complicating the jobs of health care workers as wildfires continue to burn across the state.

About two dozen COVID-related bills address a range of challenges, including dire shortages of protective gear, sick leave for workers, and the administration of a hoped-for COVID-19 vaccine.

Lawmakers are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign bills that would address the challenges of the current COVID-19 crisis and help the state prepare for future pandemics.