Today on AirTalk, we give updates on the latest COVID-19 news on the local level and statewide. Also on the show, we discuss how California ski resorts are adapting to COVID-19 during the winter months; how Gen Z and Millennials are leading to a decline in workplace relationships; and more.
COVID-19: LA County Restaurants Ordered To End Outdoor Dining Amid Surge In COVID Cases
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Today’s topics include:
- Daily coronavirus cases triple as pandemic worsens
- L.A.County suspends outdoor dining amid spike in COVID cases
- Astra Zeneca & Oxford University say COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective
- Now the U.S. has too many ventilators, and too few specialists to operate them
Guest:
Robert Kim-Farley, M.D., professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; he served as the director of the Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health from 2004-2018 and is a former senior official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO
LA County Temporarily Nixes Outdoor Dining Starting Wednesday. How Will Restaurants Manage The Latest Shut Down?
After issuing a stern warning last week about the rising spread of coronavirus, L.A. County officials have made good on their plan to increase restrictions if COVID-19 cases kept rising.
On Sunday, the average number of cases over the previous five days was above 4,000. In response, outdoor dining will no longer be permitted as of Wednesday night. The move came after officials instituted a limited stay-at-home mandate, requiring that residents not leave the house (with a few exceptions) between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The new restrictions on outdoor dining will be in effect for at least three weeks. They apply to restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries.
“We hope individuals continue to support restaurants, breweries and wineries by ordering for take-out or delivery,” said Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s Director of Public Health. “We also fervently hope every L.A. County resident supports all our businesses by following the Public Health directives that we know work to slow spread.”
Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from restaurateurs and industry workers about how you’ll manage the latest wave of closures. Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Jot Condie, president & CEO of the California Restaurant Association, an advocacy organization for the restaurant industry
Robert Kim-Farley, M.D., professor of epidemiology and community health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; he served as the director of the Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health from 2004-2018 and is a former senior official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO
As COVID-19 Cases Worsen, Ski Resorts Are Trying To Adapt For The Winter Season
Skiers hoping to hit the slopes this winter are likely accustomed to worrying about snow conditions, but not the more pressing consideration this year: COVID-19 spread.
People buying ski passes and planning to stay in ski resorts are having to take a gamble on whether resorts will be allowed to stay open through the season. In order to try to bring back skiers this season, resorts are offering more incentives to buy passes, distancing in lines and lowered capacity in communal spaces, wider use of helicopters for skiing and creating more uphill skiing routes. But will these measures be enough to coax visitors back? And what will it mean for the winter recreation economy if people do not return in promising numbers?
Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more. Are you planning to go skiing or snowboarding this winter? How are you planning to do it, and what would you like to see in terms of safety at the slopes? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
John McColly, vice president of sales and marketing for Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood, California
Lauren Burke, communications director for Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in Mammoth Lakes, CA
Politics Round-Up: Biden’s Cabinet Picks, Trump’s Legal Fights And More
In a scathing ruling late Saturday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann — a Republican and Federalist Society member in central Pennsylvania — compared the Trump campaign’s legal arguments to “Frankenstein’s Monster,” concluding that Trump’s team offered only “speculative accusations,” not proof of rampant corruption.
The campaign on Sunday filed notice it would appeal the decision to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a day before the state’s 67 counties are set to certify their results and send them to state officials. And they asked Sunday night for an expedited hearing Wednesday as they seek to amend the Pennsylvania lawsuit that Brann dismissed.
Meanwhile, president-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Antony Blinken as secretary of state, according to multiple people familiar with the Biden team’s planning.
We check in on the latest on the national political scene.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
Meridith McGraw, White House reporter for Politico; she tweets
Zach Courser, co-director of the policy lab and visiting assistant professor of government at Claremont McKenna College
Are Workplace Romances Soon To Be A Thing Of The Past?
Many Gen Z and Millennial workers, whose careers have been shaped by forces like the recession, coronavirus pandemic and #MeToo, are dating in the workplace less than their predecessors.
The decline is due to many factors. Younger people tend to be better at meeting people online, and because of feelings of financial precarity, might be more likely to seek out romantic attachments virtually that pose less risk to their jobs. Greater scrutiny of sexual harassment post-#MeToo also plays a role. Workers that might have a crush on a co-worker may worry that their advances won’t be reciprocated or appreciated, and hold off from pursuing a love interest.
What do you think of office romances? Have you had one in the past, and do you think office romances are likely to survive in the future? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Krithika Varagur, columnist at the Wall Street Journal; she tweets
COVID-19 Fatigue: How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health In A Time Of Uncertainty
It’s been eight months since the pandemic hit the United States, and some of us are experiencing a sense of burnout and emotional exhaustion as we navigate the changing safety orders, as well as health and financial concerns.
The feeling has been termed “COVID fatigue,” and it’s especially difficult now as the holidays approach and as we’re forced to remain physically isolated to protect the safety of our loved ones. So what can individuals do to take care of their mental health at this time?
If you’ve been experiencing COVID fatigue, call us and let us know what’s going on. We’re at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Diana Concannon, PsyD, associate provost at Alliant International University, a private university with campuses across California; she is a forensic psychologist who’s worked in crisis response for over a decade