Health Care

New VA study finds Paxlovid may cut the risk of long COVID

November 9, 2022

For those at high risk, Pfizer's antiviral drug helps stave off severe COVID-19. Now research suggests it may also reduce their chances of long COVID.

Health Care

Omicron keeps finding new evolutionary tricks to outsmart our immunity

October 25, 2022

SARS-CoV-2 is evolving "rapidly," spawning one new variant after another. But omicron continues to dominate, raising new questions about how evolution of the virus is headed.

State Government

Overdue: State owes community clinics millions for COVID vaccinations

March 19, 2022

A year after ramping up to vaccinate 6 million low-income residents, community clinics are in dire final straits waiting for state money. Some are cutting services.

Sacramento City Unified will keep its student mask mandate for now, but sets benchmarks to remove it

March 9, 2022 | Janelle Salanga

The district says the soonest it could lift its mask requirement is April 18. It’s basing its decision off Sacramento County’s level of community transmission, which is currently “low.”

Geography, politics key factors in whether California districts will still require masking

March 6, 2022

Most school districts plan to follow the state’s recommendation and “strongly recommend” masks after March 12, although they will not require them.

Race and Equity

COVID-19 has turned deadlier for Black Californians, who have the state’s lowest vaccination rate

February 26, 2022

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.

Health Care

Biden Administration’s Rapid-Test Rollout Doesn’t Easily Reach Those Who Need It Most

January 23, 2022

In the past week, the Biden administration launched two programs that aim to get rapid covid tests into the hands of every American. But the design of both efforts disadvantages people who already face the greatest barriers to testing.

Health Care

Nurse Shortages In California Reaching Crisis Point

August 29, 2021

COVID-19 burnout is driving many nurses to quit, and hospital administrators say the state’s new vaccine mandate is compounding the shortage, too.

Health Care

Worried About Going Out Once California Reopens? Experts Say Take It Slow.

May 10, 2021 | Sammy Caiola

While many people may be excited about returning to in-person social interactions post-pandemic, therapists say others are experiencing fear, obsessive behavior and uncertainty about going out again.

How Growers Had To Sidestep County And State Programs To Vaccinate Farmworkers

May 9, 2021

As harvest season approached, growers begged county officials to vaccinate their workers. But the state and counties didn’t prioritize vaccine doses for farmworkers in February. So the growers and doctors stepped in and set up their own clinics.