Today on AirTalk, we check in with Mayor Eric Garcetti and take your COVID-19 questions with an infectious disease specialist. Also on the show, we take a look at the state of the restaurant industry; discuss the week's political headlines with our weekly roundtable; and more.
COVID-19: AMA With Infectious Disease Specialist, Check In With Mayor Garcetti
As of Sunday afternoon, L.A. County has 913 deaths and more than 19,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus, reflecting 18 new deaths and another 440 new cases. One of the new deaths occurred in a person between the age of 18 and 41, county officials reported.
Wednesday, April 22 marked the deadliest 24 hours of coronavirus in the state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom reported Thursday that 115 people died the previous day, underscoring the vital responsibility to stay home and limit the spread of the virus. Earlier this month, Newsom announced a framework of six parameters he says it will take to reopen the state's economy. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a similar five-pillar plan.
The official death toll topped 200,000 worldwide, with about 3 million confirmed infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The true toll is believed to be much higher, because of inadequate testing, differences in counting the dead and efforts by some governments to conceal the extent of their outbreaks. The number of dead in the U.S. reached about 55,000 — close to the 58,000 U.S. troops killed during the Vietnam War. Italy, Britain, Spain and France accounted for more than 20,000 deaths each. In the state of Georgia, where Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has moved aggressively to get businesses back on track, restaurants received the go-ahead to resume dine-in service on Monday as long as they follow certain restrictions, including keeping tables 6 feet apart.
Today on AirTalk, we get the latest updates on COVID-19 from an infectious disease specialist. Plus, Mayor Garcetti joins Larry to discuss the latest outlook for the city. Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist and the Associated Press. Read the full LAist story here.
Guest:
Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena
Eric Garcetti, mayor of the City of Los Angeles; he tweets
As Thousands Flock To SoCal Beaches, Is Your Compliance With Shelter-In-Place Waning?
Despite continued stay-at-home orders, thousands of Southern Californians flocked to beaches this weekend, as the thermostat climbed north of ninety degrees.
While L.A. and San Diego County beaches were closed, Ventura and Orange Counties were still open for visitors, which did follow certain public health guidelines.
Meanwhile, we’ve heard anecdotally that some are loosening the shelter-in-place restrictions on their own lives. As the quarantine wears on and the numbers in California remain fairly flat, some are starting to see friends or family.
Are the continued shelter-in-place guidelines taking a toll on your patience and are you starting to change your behavior? And looking at it from the policy perspective, what are the trade-offs between continued harsh shelter-in-place measures and people’s waning compliance? Call us at 866-893-5722.
How Is The Restaurant Industry Doing At This Point?
The restaurant industry across the country continues to be battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Many have had to cut staff and furlough employees. Many places have announced they’ll close their doors temporarily and some have said they’ll shut down for good as a result.
According to the O.C. Register, The California Restaurant Association sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom several weeks ago stating 30,000 restaurants across the state could experience the same fate due to the regulations only allowing curbside and take-out sales. Some states, like Georgia and West Virginia, are moving to reopen the economy. That includes restaurants, but many owners and public health officials are conflicted about the decision. It’s hard to imagine local restaurants reopening to the public any time soon, as cases in L.A. and California continue to grow. So what does a realistic time frame look like? What’s being done to support businesses? And how are owners and workers continuing to adjust to cope with the unprecedented hit?
Today on AirTalk, we check back in on the restaurant industry. Do you operate a restaurant or do you work in the industry? Call in and tell us how it’s going at this point: 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Charles Lew, Los Angeles-based lawyer and Small Business Commissioner for Los Angeles City; he tweets
Labor, Business Sectors Debate Who Gets Workers Comp And How During COVID-19
While the vast majority of California’s economy has shut down to some degree, essential workers like nurses, delivery drivers and grocery store workers are still clocking in each day, and with that comes the increased risk of contracting COVID-19. But if an essential employee tests positive for COVID-19, how can you determine whether the virus was contacted as a result of work and who should be responsible for footing the bill?
Governor Gavin Newsom is looking at this issue right now as he considers signing an executive order that would create a blanket presumption that essential employees who contract COVID-19 did so on the job. The intent is to make it easier for those employees to qualify for workers comp benefits. Labor advocacy organizations argue that the burden of proof on the employee is already high in workers’ comp cases, and that not providing a blanket presumption will only further hinder employees from getting medical and other benefits if they contract the virus on the job. The business sector, however, is pushing back, saying a blanket order like this would further strain the state’s workers comp system and force the private sector to foot the bill in the process.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll hear from labor and business interests about the ongoing discussion over who should qualify for workers comp benefits from COVID-19.
Guests:
Mitch Steiger, legislative advocate for the California Labor Federation, an organization representing more than 1,200 unions and more than 2 million workers in the state of California
Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA), a business advocacy organization representing businesses in Southern California
Week In Politics: Trump’s Pressers, Relief Packages, The VP Pick And More
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable recaps the major headlines you might’ve missed in politics news over the weekend and looks ahead to the week to come. Here are the headlines that we’re following this week:
A nearly $500 billion relief package was signed by Trump Friday
Why “phase four” will be more of a partisan fight
What’s the responsibility of Congress if states file for bankruptcy? Also, can they?
Some analysts say that without state and local aid, we could be headed for a depression
Trump faces backlash after floating idea of injecting disinfectant
The President reportedly is thinking about dialing down pressers
Some GOP are concerned that Trump’s briefings will lose them the Senate
Dire debt projections from CBO
2020
Black leaders are pushing for a black woman as Biden’s VP pick
Stacey Abrams makes the pitch for herself
New survey says Latino support for Biden is softening
New potential evidence in allegations of sexual assault again Joe Biden Sexual assault allegation, with accuser saying her mother called into “Larry King Live” after assault
New York cancels Democratic presidential primary
Pelosi endorses Biden
Biden’s campaign rejects Louis C.K.’s $2,800 donation
Guests:
Amanda Renteria, senior advisor for Emerge America, a national organization that works to identify and train Democratic women who want to run for political office; she is the former national political director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and has been a staffer for Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); she tweets
Michael Shires, associate dean and associate professor at Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy; he tweets