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Home MenuCity Manager's Special Update December 1, 2020
Detailed Account on State Actions RE: COVID-19
On Monday, November 30, 2020, Governor Newsom provided his weekly COVID-19 update starting off with today’s COVID-19 case numbers. Yesterday’s COVID-19 case numbers came in at 14,034 keeping on par with the 7-day average of approximately 14,657 (daily). This is a sharp uptick and far exceeds the spike seen in July of 9,881 daily average. California anticipates another large increase in cases within the next 1 – 2 weeks from Thanksgiving activities and gatherings. Below is a comparison from other states in the United States to the rise of COVID-19 case numbers. California ranks 39th in a 7-day average case rate per 100k residents in the United States.
- North Dakota: 112.3 cases per 100k
- Wyoming: 111.7 cases per 100k
- South Dakota: 111.5 cases per 100k
- Minnesota: 104.6 cases per 100k
39. California: 34.5 cases per 100k
Testing and Hospitalization Rates on the Rise
There are 223,947 daily tests on a 7-day average and roughly, 12% of daily COVID-19 cases will be hospitalized two weeks after reporting. California has seen an 89% increase in COVID-19+ hospitalizations over 14-days. Current projections show hospitalizations could increase 2 – 3 times this current amount in the next month.
Capacity: California’s healthcare system capacity, there are 43,943 admitted patients and 7,787 of them are COVID-19 patients. With an increase in COVID-19 cases, state and local health officials are making projections of the total percentage beds that will be occupied on December 24 given it can take up to two weeks to show signs of COVID-19. Below is a table that shows the California health system projections throughout the regions.
In addition, 10 – 30% of hospitalizations will require ICU care and respiratory support. There has been a 67% increase in COVID-19+ admissions over 14-days. California’s critical care capacity has increased in COVID-19+ patients with 1,812 total ICU COVID-19+ patients, 2,000 total ICU beds available, 7,733 total ICU beds, and 21,559 ventilations available. Below is a table displaying the California health system projections for ICUs
If these trends continue, California will need to take drastic action, including a potential Stay-at-Home Order for regions with concerning hospitalizations and ICU capacity. Below is a visual representation of the current tier status with Emergency Brake.
PPE Readiness and Response: California continues to prepare for the surge in COVID-19 cases. California has the largest PPE stockpile of any state with 40 million more N95s than U.S. has in Strategic National Stockpile. The state has active and registered health staff that are ready to be deployed through Health Corps. In addition, the state is first-in-the-nation to have a state testing lab and have more ventilators on hand than any other state. There are currently 11 surge facilities throughout the state with the ability to stand up more in 24 – 96 hours and a total bed capacity of 1,862. The current PPE inventory are: 179.3M N-95 masks, 339M surgical masks, 145.3M gloves, 23.3M face shields, 64.3M gowns, and 13.5M collection kits.
Immediate Relief Funds for Businesses
Governor Newsom, in partnership with the Legislature, announced today immediate relief funds for businesses. In this plan, there will be billions in sales tax deferrals including:
- Automatic 3-month extension for taxpayers with less than $1M in sales tax
- Expand interest-free payment agreements to larger companies with up to $5M in sales tax
- Expand to industries heavily impacted by operations restrictions including bars & restaurants, hair salons, and more.
There will also be a California Rebuilding Fund. The goal is to provide $125M of relief with public-private investment for small businesses and increase state funding to $37.5M total. Application opened last weekend and many applicants have submitted their applications.
- $86 million matched already
- 68% diverse ownership
- 46% women owned
- 50% owned by indigenous + people of color
Immediate Relief for Small Businesses
In addition, also with the partnership with the Legislature, California will provide up to $500 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
- Grants up to $25k for small businesses/ non-profits/ cultural institutions in need
- This program will act as a bridge until the state can take further actions with the Legislature in January 2021.
To view and complete the grants for businesses, visit covid19.ca.gov.
Existing Support for Small Businesses
$100 Million Main Street Hiring Tax Credit
- $1,000 per qualified employee
- Up to $100,000 for each business employer
- Application will go live tomorrow, December 1, 2020.
Tax relief:
- $100M to waive franchise tax for new businesses
- Exclude PPP loans from state taxes
There will be $100 million for Small Business Support including $50 Million COVID Disaster Relief Loan Guarantees:
- $24.9 million approved
- 83% women, minority-owned, low-to-moderate income businesses
$50 Million Small Business Programs:
- 217 loans approved
- Leveraging total of $109 million
Great Plates:
- Delivered 17,898,292 meals
- Provided 9,822 jobs in food industry
Executive Orders enabling commercial eviction freezes and 16,223,445 units of PPE distributed to support small businesses.
$20M invested in expanding services:
- 86 small business centers now open to help navigate new guidance, access capital, adapt to new marketplace
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans:
- 549,758 businesses
- $34.2 billion
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advances:
- 809,792 businesses
- $2.7 billion in grants
PPP:
- 623, 360 businesses
- $68.6 billion
In total, this is a $105.5 billion in Federal Relief.
Additional Relief for Businesses to Come
The Administration is currently working with the Legislature on a broader relief package including creating incentives to retain and expand jobs, waiving or modifying fees for heavily impacted industries including bars & restaurants, hair salons, personal services, & more, and accelerating additional infrastructure funding.
California Vaccine Update
California anticipates getting approximately 327,000 doses in mid-December with second doses likely to follow within 3 weeks. The Drafting Guidelines Workgroup are making recommendations this week for Phase 1a distributing and recommendations will be reviewed by the Community Advisory Vaccine Committee.
Reporter’s Q&A
What thresholds will you use to determine county by county Stay-at-Home Orders?
- Dr. Ghaly- Depends regional basis. We will be looking into ICU capacity versus the tier status. Certain hospitals are already suspending voluntary surgeries.
- Governor Newsom- The tables below shows that if we don’t do better, this is a projection of what it will look like. We are assessing in real-time for the Stay-at-Home Order. We are working with cities, counties, and local health officers.
Why is there a case explosion even though there are restrictions in place in the state?
- Governor Newsom- For California, we expect cases to rise in two weeks. We have seen the positivity cases rise and this will impact hospitals. On average, there are 59 deaths per day.
- Dr. Ghaly- So many Californians continue to have their guard up. COVID-19 fatigue is a thing, this doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is going away. The reason why cases continue to rise is because people traveling. COVID-19 is traveling from the East to the West coast.
Is California going to wait for FDA approval before doing its own vaccine data testing or will the state start doing its own data to speed up distribution? How can we be sure that people are taking upon themselves to self-quarantine? Will there be “watchdogs”? What exactly is self-quarantining?
- Governor Newsom- The Scientific Safety Review Committee are the ones for the stamp of approval during the vaccine trial. This is not intended to delay any of the process. This is intended to build trust between the people and officials for the process of the vaccine.
- Dr. Ghaly- The Scientific Safety Review Committee are reviewing what the FDA are doing regarding the vaccines, but in a California point of view. We recommend to self-quarantine for 14 days and to look at the guidelines to minimize the mixing. All Californians need to consider this. We are also looking at the federal level for the quarantine guidelines.
Are there any executive orders that you are considering for the healthcare workers to help meet the surge of COVID-19+ patients?
- Dr. Ghaly- We’re in active conversations for strong staffing provisions.
What are some lessons learned from the previous Stay-at-Home Order from March and February to be implemented in this new order?
- Governor Newsom- We are in constant conversations and looking at the data to lead these determinations of the new order. Also, by looking at each region and county.
Dr. Ghlay- This spread is happening in our communities. The minute you step in your household and take off your masks, the transmission on COVID-19 is high.
Closing Thoughts
Even though all signs point to a tough next few weeks, we can still make a difference. Now more than ever we need to turn the corner on this recent surge. We know what to do. Let’s not get complacent or, even worse, give up. Until the vaccines and pharmaceutical can bring about the needed normalcy we can all do our part:
- Stay home as much as you can
- Limit gatherings to no more than three households, keep them short and only meet outdoors
- Always maintain a minimum 6-foot distance from people not in your household
- Cover your face when you leave home
- Avoid non-essential travel
- Stay home if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or believe you could have been exposed
Thank you for continuing to care for our community, friends and neighbors. Also, remember to shop local and support our small businesses.
City News
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