California Coronavirus Updates: One-day COVID-19 Death Total Is Now Higher Than D-Day Or 9/11 Attacks

11:26 a.m.: One-day COVID-19 death total is now higher than D-Day or 9/11 attacks

As officials met to discuss approval of a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, the numbers grew ever more stunning.

According to the Associated Press, Johns Hopkins University reported that the U.S. recorded 3,124 deaths Wednesday, the highest one-day total yet. That staggering number is higher than the 2,500 American who died on D-Day in World War II.

The day’s total is also higher than the 2,977 who died in the 9/11 attacks. Up until last week, the peak of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. was 2,603 on April 15, when New York City was the epicenter of the nation’s outbreak. More than 106,000 people were hospitalized on Wednesday — also a record total.

10:41 a.m.: US health experts to decide if Pfizer vaccine gets authorized

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine faces one of its final hurdles before an expected decision to greenlight the shot for use in millions of Americans, according to the Associated Press.

FDA advisers are meeting on Thursday to scrutinize the company’s data for any red flags or oversights. This public review comes as U.K. regulators investigate two apparent cases of an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

Safety will be at the forefront of the medical experts’ panel as they vote on whether to endorse the vaccine. They will also address some unknowns about the vaccine’s effectiveness in certain groups. A final FDA decision and the first shots could follow within days.

10:24 a.m.: Top COVID-19 relief negotiator sees ‘progress’

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said there’s headway on a $900 billion-plus COVID-19 relief plan, according to the Associated Press.

Mnuchin, President Donald Trump’s top COVID-19 relief negotiator, is citing similarities between the latest administration offer and an emerging measure from a bipartisan group of senators. However, a one-week extension of a potential government shutdown appears to have sapped some urgency from the talks.

Both House and Senate leaders said they won’t adjourn Congress without passing an aid measure. The aid is linked to a government-wide funding bill, and the expected one-week extension for that bill is set to end Dec. 18.

9:55 a.m.: Sleep Train Arena opened as COVID-19 surge facility

The former Sleep Train Arena in North Natomas has been converted into a COVID-19 surge facility amid record-breaking case numbers. The facility opened Wednesday.

There are now 20 beds in place, with 224 more in reserve if needed. There’s no intensive care available at the former Sacramento Kings arena, so the patients admitted to this surge facility will be coronavirus patients who don’t require intensive care and other non-COVID-19 patients from overcrowded hospitals.

3:09 p.m: US court of appeals panel sympathetic to Nevada churches

A three-member U.S. appeals court panel appears to consider arguments by lawyers for two Nevada churches fighting COVID-19 restrictions, according to the Associated Press.

The two churches argue that state COVID-19 restrictions have been treating churches differently from casinos and other secular businesses, violating their First Amendment rights. The 9th Circuit panel in San Francisco heard arguments Tuesday from lawyers for the churches that want the appellate court to reverse earlier district court rulings.

The previous rulings focused on upholding the hard attendance caps Nevada’s governor had set on the size of indoor worship services. The churches and their lawyers said that churches should be held to the same standards that allow casinos, bars, restaurants, and others to operate based on a percentage of their capacity, not a hard attendance cap.

3:05 p.m.: Rose Parade canceled this year, will be replaced with TV special

There won’t be thousands of people watching flower-laden floats roll through the streets of Pasadena on New Years’ Day, according to the Associated Press.

However, the show must go on, so Sheryl Crow was selected to lead a long list of performers and other celebrity guests who will appear in a Jan. 1 television special replacing the 132nd Rose Parade, which was canceled earlier due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tournament of Roses said the special will air on ABC, NBC, Hallmark Channel, Univision, RFD-TV and KTLA-Los Angeles. The organizers said performances were filmed at locations around the country to limit travel and ensure safety for the performers and crew alike.

3:03 p.m.: Only half of Americans say they will get the COVID-19 vaccine, a poll says

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that only about half of U.S. adults are ready to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Even as the county begins to frantically prepare for months of vaccinations to hopefully end the pandemic, roughly a quarter of Americans say they aren’t sure if they want to get vaccinated when their turn comes. Another quarter of adults said they’re only sure if they will receive the shot. 

The Food and Drug Administration is poised to decide whether to allow emergency use of two vaccine candidates.

9:58 a.m.: FDA close to authorizing COVID-19 vaccine

U.S. regulators have released their first scientific evaluation of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and confirmed it offers strong protection, according to the Associated Press.

That sets the stage for the government to greenlight the most significant vaccination effort in the nation’s history. A panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers will meet on Thursday to decide whether to allow emergency use to vaccinate millions of Americans with Pfizer’s formulation. A final FDA decision and the first ew shots could follow within days.

9:55 a.m.: New White House offer adds $600 checks to COVID-19 relief

The House is expected to pass a one-week government funding bill as lawmakers try to reach an agreement on another coronavirus relief bill, according to the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration offered a $916 billion coronavirus relief package that would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans but eliminate a $300-per-week employment benefit favored by a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators.

Democrats were unhappy that the administration refused to back the partial restoration of the $300-per-week bonus pandemic jobless benefits that lapsed in August. However, both sides agree that new virus aid needs to get done before Congress adjourns this year.

6:41 p.m.: California unemployment fraud likely tops $2 billion, bank says

Bank of America says it’s likely California has paid at least $2 billion in fraudulent unemployment benefits. Bank of America contracts with the state to distribute unemployment benefits to people on debit cards. 

In September, the state asked Bank of America to freeze 345,000 accounts because of suspected fraud. In a letter to state lawmakers on Monday, Bank of America said its assessment of those accounts revealed about $2 billion in fraudulent activity. The bank also identified 295,000 suspicious accounts it says the state should investigate. 

California has paid $110 billion in benefits since the start of the pandemic.

6:35 p.m.: Some Southern California counties ask to be removed from stay-at-home restrictions 

Three counties northwest of Los Angeles want to be separated from the state-designated Southern California region for determining the extent of pandemic restrictions.

Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties plan to seek approval to create a smaller Central Coast region if the tri-county ICU capacity exceeds 15% in the next three weeks. At that point, the three counties will ask to be assessed on the tri-county ICU capacity and not overall Southern California region capacity.

The region is now under new restrictions after falling below the 15% threshold.

3:17 p.m.: NFL players say they don’t need bubble to finish season

NFL players believe the current football season can be completed on time without the league moving into a “bubble,” according to the Associated Press.

Other sports have had a postseason bubble in hopes of reducing the spread of the virus to players. The NFL instead believes that they can skip the bubble as long as everyone follows the rules already in place meant to slow down the spread.

NFLPA President JC Tretter and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said that the rules already in place requiring players and staff to be tested daily, wear masks, socially distance and have contact tracers have helped prevent the virus’ spread in the league.

3:02 p.m.: Top state health official says COVID-19 cases expected to grow

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said that coronavirus cases in the state are expected to continue to climb, according to the Associated Press.

Ghaly said at a press conference on Tuesday that everyday activities now carry a much greater risk of infection. Because of this, he urged residents to stay home whenever possible. The warning came as California authorities sent a cell phone emergency alert to two major regions of the state to tell millions of people that the virus is spreading rapidly.

The cell phone blast to the state-designated 11-county Southern California region and 12-county San Joaquin Valley region was sent by the Office of Emergency Services. Both regions triggered increased restrictions this week after ICU capacity dropped.

2:55 p.m.: ‘Super-spreader’ party in Los Angeles broken up, 158 people arrested

Officials say Los Angeles County deputies arrested nearly 160 people at an illegal “super-spreader” party over the weekend, according to the Associated Press.

Many of the attendees were not wearing masks despite surging coronavirus cases in the area. Authorities announced on Tuesday that the party in Palmdale resulted in the arrests of 158 people, 35 of whom were underaged.

Deputies found six weapons at the home and were able to rescue a 17-year-old human trafficking victim. The local sheriff said his department is tracking other underground parties in the area, which typically happen weekly and could also become super-spreader events and contribute more to rising cases. KTTV Fox 11 first reported on the party and arrests.

10:52 a.m.: No need to wipe down groceries or other packages because of COVID-19

AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin

If you’re worried about the coronavirus on your groceries or other packages, experts say to keep the risk in perspective.

According to the Associated Press, the virus mainly spreads through the respiratory droplets people spray when talking, coughing or sneezing — it’s why health experts stress the importance of wearing masks and social distancing.

Tests finding the virus on surfaces might just be detecting traces of it, not the actual live virus that’s capable of infecting people. Those early studies that found that the virus could linger on surfaces for days were conducted under laboratory conditions, not real-life conditions, where numerous ever-changing variables would affect the results.

So if you have good handwashing practices, experts say wiping down groceries isn’t necessary for most people.

10:28 a.m.: FDA posts positive review of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

U.S. health regulators have posted a positive review of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as they near a decision on whether to allow the use of the shot, according to the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration posted their review online, which offered the world the first detailed look at the evidence behind the shot co-developed with German pharmaceutical company BioNTech.

FDA scientists said the shots worked well in older adults, a key group. The FDA review comes before a Thursday meeting where a panel of independent experts will scrutinize the data and vote on whether to recommend using the vaccine on the American population.

A decision to authorize the vaccine is expected within days.

10:17 a.m.: Current administration under scrutiny for passing up buying more COVID-19 doses

The Trump administration’s coronavirus vaccine effort is coming under new scrutiny, according to the Associated Press.

They failed to lock in a chance to buy millions of additional doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, which has shown to be highly effective against COVID-19, according to research. That decision could delay the delivery of a second batch of doses until the multinational pharmaceutical giant fulfills other international contracts.

The revelation comes as President Donald Trump plans to host a White House summit to celebrate the expected approval of the first vaccine later this week. Officials from President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team were not invited.

9:36 a.m.: Sacramento US Attorney tests positive for coronavirus

The U.S. Attorney for Sacramento, McGregor Scott, has tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive result came just after an awards ceremony in his office. Everyone was masked and maintained social distance except for a group photo at the end of the ceremony.

Scott said he feels fine and has started working from home for now. He hopes to be cleared to return to his office late this week.

5:33 p.m.: Sacramento County to consider fines for businesses violating COVID-19 orders

Sacramento County residents and businesses who violate COVID-19 public health orders could soon face fines.

County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said on CapRadio’s Insight that an ordinance being voted on by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday would only affect repeat offenders who blatantly disregard orders. 

“It’s not for us to go out and willy-nilly dish out citations to every single business,” Kasirye said. “And we know that, for the most part, most businesses have been complying. So it’s going to be used in very selective situations.”

Under the ordinance, businesses could be fined between $250 and $10,000. Residents would face penalties between $25 and $500.

Kasirye said intensive care units in the region are expected to fall below 15% capacity soon, which would trigger the Newsom administration’s latest stay-at-home order.   

“From what the state has told us, we anticipate that probably within this week or early next week that we will hit the threshold,” she said.

She said she understands this isn’t easy on people, especially the owners of small businesses forced to close while others stay open.

“I hear those complaints and I do hear the pain also but the goal is for us to reduce the movement of people and gathering of people and that’s why you’re seeing the orders that we have.”

The stay-at-home order allows retailers to operate at 20% capacity but closes indoor and outdoor restaurant dining and hair and nail salons.

5:29 p.m.: As virus slams rural California, many still pan restrictions

Restaurant owner Brenda Luntey shrugs off the new stay-at-home orders California has announced to stem a surge in COVID-19 cases. She is keeping her restaurant in rural Shasta County open, despite orders to shut indoor dining. 

“This is my first episode of civil disobedience in my entire life. My whole family is in law enforcement. I’m a follow-the-rules kind of person,” Luntey, owner of San Francisco Deli, told the Associated Press.

Hers is one of several rural California counties that appeared to dodge the virus in the spring but are now seeing some of the most alarming spikes in COVID-19 infections statewide. Each day brings dire new records in hospitalizations and deaths. 

But outside California’s big cities, the backlash against tough new restrictions is growing, especially in conservative areas.

11:13 a.m.: California unveils new contact tracing app

California is rolling out CA Notify, a new contact tracing smartphone app, according to the Associated Press.

The app will alert people if they have spent time near someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the tool on Monday as cases and hospitalizations soar throughout the state. Use of the tool is voluntary, and people can opt in to use it starting Thursday.

Officials say the tool doesn’t track people’s identities or locations. It uses Bluetooth wireless signals to detect when two phones are within six feet of each other for at least 15 minutes.

Sixteen other states plus Guam and Washington, D.C. have made the system co-created by Apple and Google available, but most residents still aren’t using it.

11:22 a.m: Inaugural LA Bowl game postponed until 2021

The inaugural LA Bowl football game has been postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to the Associated Press.

The formerly scheduled Dec. 30 matchup at SoFi Stadium was set to pair the Mountain West champion with a team from the Pac-12.

The LA Bowl is the 11th bowl game to be postponed this year. That leaves 33 bowl games currently scheduled, plus the College Football Playoff championship games.

11:11 a.m.: California lawmakers will meet in-person to start new legislative session

California state lawmakers will gather on Monday to swear-in new members and start planning for the new legislative session.

Members of the state Assembly will meet in a physically distanced way at the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento for the swearing-in ceremony. Sacramento County health officials ordered the Assembly to use the NBA arena instead of swearing-in smaller groups in the chamber. This allows the attendees to have the space needed for safe social distancing.

The Sacramento Kings provided the stadium for use, free-of-charge, to the lawmakers through an agreement, as reviewed by CapRadio.

Unlike previous years, lawmakers are not allowed any family or friends to attend the swearing-in, and they are providing alternative options for Assembly members who cannot participate in-person or are uncomfortable doing so.

State senators will take the oath of office in the Senate chambers at the Capitol. Some will also have the option to be sworn-in remotely from their district offices, according to the Senate President Pro Tem’s office.

6:23 p.m.: California reports more than 20,000 virus cases in one day

California has broken the record for new coronavirus cases reported in a single day. 

The state reported 20,759 new cases on Wednesday, shattering the previous record of more than 18,350 set just last week. According to CalMatters, 8,517 Californians are hospitalized, nearly doubled the number who were two weeks ago.

The numbers reflect an alarming surge of new cases in the nation’s most populous state that has Gov. Gavin Newsom considering a new stay-at-home order during the crucial holiday shopping season. 

Newsom is still isolating in his Sacramento-area home after three of his children were exposed to the virus. He did not hold a news conference on Wednesday. But he said earlier in the week he was considering drastic measures.

5:19 p.m: Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak back in office after being diagnosed with COVID-19

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said Tuesday he has returned to his office following the completion of self-isolation he began after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-November, according to the Associated Press.

The governor said on Twitter that he and his team were continuing to work on behalf of Nevadans affected by the pandemic, and he thanked those who sent him well wishes.

Sisolak, a Democrat, isolated at the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City. He announced on Nov. 13 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and said three days later that he was only experiencing mild head congestion.

He was diagnosed as the state saw a spike in coronavirus cases that’s now straining its hospital system.

5:15 p.m.: Photo at Reno facility fuels false claims over coronavirus

With cases of coronavirus surging in Nevada, false claims calling the pandemic a made-up crisis are swirling on social media, according to the Associated Press.

Social media users are sharing a doctor’s selfie from an alternative care site in Reno to make it appear no one is using the facility. Renown Regional Medical Center, which operates the auxiliary site in a parking garage, has been a primary target of other false claims suggesting that hospitals are empty in the state, which recently surpassed 150,000 virus cases.

President Donald Trump shared the photo Tuesday in a tweet criticizing the election results in the state.

11:22 a.m.: Outdoor dining still open in Pasadena

The city of Pasadena has kept outdoor dining open despite Los Angeles County recently restricting restaurants to takeout only, according to the Associated Press.

A surge of COVID-19 cases last week in the nation’s most populous county led to a three-week end to outdoor dining and a broader stay-home order that took effect Monday for every town and city in the county except for Pasadena and Long Beach. Both have their own public health departments and can set up their own rules.

Long Beach, however, has chosen to close their outdoor dining. While Pasadena, a city of 140,000 people, has followed the county’s lead with health directives, they decided to chart their own course and closely monitor their 600 restaurants, which their officials claim is a more aggressive approach.

“We literally have seen COVID cases in a large percentage of businesses across the city,” Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. “To single out restaurants was unfair.”

According to Derderian, Pasadena closed down seven restaurants after inspectors found safety and health violations like staff not wearing plastic shields or seating people indoors. All had been approved to reopen after correcting the errors.

Daily assessments of Pasadena’s virus situation eventually led to more restrictions on Tuesday, limiting gatherings to only people of the same household, which also applies to outdoor seating.

If the city doesn’t put a pause on their outdoor dining altogether, it could be forced to do so by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who suggested a more “drastic” stay-at-home order that could be in the works to help prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

10:05 a.m.: CDC advises staying home for upcoming winter holidays

U.S health officials have said that staying home for the upcoming winter holidays is the best way to stay safe and protect others, according to the Associated Press.

But for those who choose to ignore that advice and meet with family or friends in different households, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests getting COVID-19 testing before and after trips and gatherings is an option.

Many Americans didn’t follow CDC guidance again traveling over Thanksgiving, so the agency announced the testing option during a Wednesday news briefing. They said even if only a few people become infected while traveling, that could still result in hundreds of thousands of new infections.

The advice also included reducing non-essential activities for a full week after travel or for 10 days if not tested afterward.

9:59 a.m.: While Gov. Gavin Newsom hints at another statewide stay-at-home order, some local officials are unsure of plans

Intensive care units at California hospitals are filling up, so on Monday, Gov. Newsom warned that another stay-at-home order could be coming within days. But local officials say they are still in the dark about his plans.

California’s health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said he’s been in constant contact with local health officers and hospital administrators. Still, officials from at least five counties in the most restrictive reopening tier said they haven’t heard of any further lockdown plans from the state yet.

Several county spokespersons said they would likely support new state guidance, but for now, local health officials  — like all Californians — are standing by, watching the numbers and awaiting the possibility of a future shutdown.

5:52 p.m.: California paid $400 million in jobless benefits to inmates

The scale of the unemployment fraud involving California state prison inmates has grown to a staggering $400 million. That’s nearly triple the amount prosecutors first disclosed last week. 

The new number comes from the California Employment Development Department comparing its unemployment claims data to inmates’ Social Security numbers. In all, records show about 31,000 inmates applied for benefits. About 20,800 were paid about $400 million. The rest were unpaid claims totaling about $80 million. 

The new number is higher because it includes the base unemployment benefit and additional aid Congress approved during the pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is “deeply alarmed.” He said bad actors abused the system.

5:48 p.m.: Elected officials dine out after urging others to stay home

San Francisco’s mayor dined at a posh Napa Valley restaurant the day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom was there. San Jose’s mayor went to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving. And a Los Angeles County supervisor dined outdoors after voting to ban outdoor dining there. 

They were all on the hot seat Tuesday after reports that they violated restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus — or at least the spirit of the rules. 

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that San Francisco Mayor London Breed attended a party with seven others at the French Laundry on Nov. 7. San Jose’s mayor apologized for a family gathering with five different households. California’s rules limit gatherings to three households.

5:45 p.m.: California to get 327,000 vaccine doses later this month

A coronavirus vaccine is on the way, at least for some at first. 

California will get 327,000 doses of a vaccine from Pfizer later this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. After a person received their first dose of the vaccine, a required second dose will be delivered and given about three weeks later. A vaccine from a second company — Moderna — is also nearing approval.

Newsom said later this week, he’ll unveil a plan for who will get vaccinated first. He has previously said health care workers will be among the first to get a vaccine, and other Californians shouldn’t expect a COVID-19 inoculation until next spring or summer.

Is shopping in stores safe during the pandemic?AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that shopping in crowded stores is a “higher risk” activity. People should limit their in-person shopping time — even at supermarkets.

Instead, the CDC recommends shopping online, visiting outdoor markets, or using curbside pickup, where workers bring orders outside to you. If you need to enter a store, instead go during off-hours when there are likely to be fewer people, generally early in the morning or later at night. Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet away from others, and shop quickly.

2:14 p.m.: Health care workers, nursing home residents should get vaccine priority, panel recommends

An influential scientific panel has taken up one of the most pressing questions in the U.S. coronavirus epidemic: when the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available, who should be at the front of the line for shots?

According to the Associated Press, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted Tuesday to recommend a proposal that would prioritize health care workers and patients in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

NPR reports that these high priority groups could be fully vaccinated by early next year, if the FDA’s approval timeline doesn’t change from mid-December.

The two groups together represent around 23 million out of a total of 330 million American people.

Because supplies will be short during the first few weeks after vaccine authorization, healthcare and long-term care facilities will still need to make decisions on their own internal priority schedule for immunization.

Staff and residents at long-term care facilities make up only 6% of confirmed coronavirus cases, but make up about 40% of all of the COVID-19 deaths.

10:13 a.m.: Winter weather will make outdoor church services difficult for attendees

With the winter weather arriving soon, churchgoers might find attending outdoor services a little difficult, so Catholic Bishop Myron Cotta of the Stockton Diocese is asking community county leaders for an exemption to resume indoor services.

California health officials have been moving counties back into the purple tier, the most restrictive tier in the state’s COVID-19 reopening system.

The Stockton Diocese covers San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mono and Alpine counties. Both Mono and Alpine counties are in the red tier, so their church services can still be held indoors, but the other counties in the Stockton Diocese are all in the purple tier, where indoor worship is banned.

Chandler Marquez, communications director for the Stockton Diocese,  said that no COVID-19 outbreaks were attributed to church gatherings when indoor services were allowed since they followed some coronavirus safety measures.

“Temperatures were taken at the door; there’s also a log of people who come to indoor worship for contact tracing if needed,” Marquez said. “Wearing masks was mandatory, and the church building itself was sanitized between services.”

San Joaquin County Counsel Mark Myles says there’s not much wiggle room for the county in light of the state’s mandatory orders.

“We have an obligation to follow the directive of the state,” Myles said. “The county supervisors can’t override the public health orders of the state.”

Attorney Dean Broyles defended a Lodi church earlier this year when they attempted to defy the state’s orders and was shut down. He said the Supreme Court’s ruling on allowing indoor services in New York does not necessarily apply to California at this time, but future litigation could.

“If churches are meeting otherwise safely that the government can’t arbitrarily limit the number of people meeting in church,” Broyles said.

For the one and a half million Catholics in the diocese, worship will have to be outdoors or online for the immediate future.

Bishop Cotta can only ask his parishioners for their prayers.

“Brothers and sisters, this truly has been and continues to be a stressful and trying time for all of us,” Cotta said. “Pray for God’s mercy an end to this time of uncertainty, suffering, and loss.”

5:52 p.m.: California paid $400 million in jobless benefits to inmates

The scale of the unemployment fraud involving California state prison inmates has grown to a staggering $400 million. That’s nearly triple the amount prosecutors first disclosed last week. 

The new number comes from the California Employment Development Department comparing its unemployment claims data to inmates’ Social Security numbers. In all, records show about 31,000 inmates applied for benefits. About 20,800 were paid about $400 million. The rest were unpaid claims totaling about $80 million. 

The new number is higher because it includes the base unemployment benefit and additional aid Congress approved during the pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is “deeply alarmed.” He said bad actors abused the system.

5:48 p.m.: Elected officials dine out after urging others to stay home

San Francisco’s mayor dined at a posh Napa Valley restaurant the day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom was there. San Jose’s mayor went to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving. And a Los Angeles County supervisor dined outdoors after voting to ban outdoor dining there. 

They were all on the hot seat Tuesday after reports that they violated restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of the coronavirus — or at least the spirit of the rules. 

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that San Francisco Mayor London Breed attended a party with seven others at the French Laundry on Nov. 7. San Jose’s mayor apologized for a family gathering with five different households. California’s rules limit gatherings to three households.

5:45 p.m.: California to get 327,000 vaccine doses later this month

A coronavirus vaccine is on the way, at least for some at first. 

California will get 327,000 doses of a vaccine from Pfizer later this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. After a person received their first dose of the vaccine, a required second dose will be delivered and given about three weeks later. A vaccine from a second company — Moderna — is also nearing approval.

Newsom said later this week, he’ll unveil a plan for who will get vaccinated first. He has previously said health care workers will be among the first to get a vaccine, and other Californians shouldn’t expect a COVID-19 inoculation until next spring or summer.

2:18 p.m.: CDC says to keep shopping trips short and quick to minimize contact with others

AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin

As the holiday season gets underway, health experts have said to avoid shopping in stores when possible, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that shopping in crowded stores is a “higher risk” activity. People should limit their in-person shopping time — even at supermarkets.

Instead, the CDC recommends shopping online, visiting outdoor markets, or using curbside pickup, where workers bring orders outside to you. If you need to enter a store, instead go during off-hours when there are likely to be fewer people, generally early in the morning or later at night. Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet away from others, and shop quickly.

2:14 p.m.: Health care workers, nursing home residents should get vaccine priority, panel recommends

An influential scientific panel has taken up one of the most pressing questions in the U.S. coronavirus epidemic: when the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available, who should be at the front of the line for shots?

According to the Associated Press, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted Tuesday to recommend a proposal that would prioritize health care workers and patients in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

NPR reports that these high priority groups could be fully vaccinated by early next year, if the FDA’s approval timeline doesn’t change from mid-December.

The two groups together represent around 23 million out of a total of 330 million American people.

Because supplies will be short during the first few weeks after vaccine authorization, healthcare and long-term care facilities will still need to make decisions on their own internal priority schedule for immunization.

Staff and residents at long-term care facilities make up only 6% of confirmed coronavirus cases, but make up about 40% of all of the COVID-19 deaths.

10:13 a.m.: Winter weather will make outdoor church services difficult for attendees

With the winter weather arriving soon, churchgoers might find attending outdoor services a little difficult, so Catholic Bishop Myron Cotta of the Stockton Diocese is asking community county leaders for an exemption to resume indoor services.

California health officials have been moving counties back into the purple tier, the most restrictive tier in the state’s COVID-19 reopening system.

The Stockton Diocese covers San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mono and Alpine counties. Both Mono and Alpine counties are in the red tier, so their church services can still be held indoors, but the other counties in the Stockton Diocese are all in the purple tier, where indoor worship is banned.

Chandler Marquez, communications director for the Stockton Diocese,  said that no COVID-19 outbreaks were attributed to church gatherings when indoor services were allowed since they followed some coronavirus safety measures.

“Temperatures were taken at the door; there’s also a log of people who come to indoor worship for contact tracing if needed,” Marquez said. “Wearing masks was mandatory, and the church building itself was sanitized between services.”

San Joaquin County Counsel Mark Myles says there’s not much wiggle room for the county in light of the state’s mandatory orders.

“We have an obligation to follow the directive of the state,” Myles said. “The county supervisors can’t override the public health orders of the state.”

Attorney Dean Broyles defended a Lodi church earlier this year when they attempted to defy the state’s orders and was shut down. He said the Supreme Court’s ruling on allowing indoor services in New York does not necessarily apply to California at this time, but future litigation could.

“If churches are meeting otherwise safely that the government can’t arbitrarily limit the number of people meeting in church,” Broyles said.

For the one and a half million Catholics in the diocese, worship will have to be outdoors or online for the immediate future.

Bishop Cotta can only ask his parishioners for their prayers.

“Brothers and sisters, this truly has been and continues to be a stressful and trying time for all of us,” Cotta said. “Pray for God’s mercy an end to this time of uncertainty, suffering, and loss.”