April 13, 2020 Media Brief
Coronavirus
Voice of OC: Is the County ready for a potential surge in COVID cases?
Hospitalizations from coronavirus went up markedly in the last few weeks while appearing to stabilize in recent days. At the same time, officials acknowledge inconsistencies with data collection, including changes day-to-day in the number of hospitals reporting how many of their patients had COVID-19.
OC Register: Coronavirus test site opens today, April 13, at shuttered San Clemente hospital
Testing will be done by appointment for people who show telltale signs of the virus such as shortness of breath and fever. In order to be tested, people must have first contacted their doctor and secured a physician’s prescription for the test.
OC Register: Orange County employee tests positive for coronavirus, makes other workers nervous
An employee at the Santa Ana Regional Center, a regional office of Social Services, was confirmed on Thursday, April 9, to have the coronavirus. That same employee, however, showed up to work that day, according to a union representative.
OC Register: Seal Beach mask order to curb coronavirus brings confusion – and a clarification
Those questions – not to mention angry comments – lit up social media sites Friday night, April 10, after Seal Beach officials announced late in the day that residents must wear masks “when they leave their homes or places of residence.”
Voice of OC: How to volunteer during the Coronavirus pandemic
Volunteers across Orange County are stepping up during the Coronavirus pandemic to help out people hit hard by the stay at home order, business closures and an increase in unemployment.
Labor
NY Times: Labor Fight Collides with the Pandemic at Trader Joe’s
The chain has aggressively opposed unionization efforts among its employees, who have been critical of its response to the coronavirus..
Economic Policy Institute: In midst of a pandemic, the NLRB makes it nearly impossible for workers to organize a union
On March 31, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a rule making it harder for workers to win and keep a union. At the same time, the NLRB has suspended all union elections, including mail ballot elections.
Common Dreams: The Administration is accused of exploiting the pandemic to advance union busting
This action reveals in stark terms just how determined the administration is to roll back the rights and benefits of federal employees say union officials.
Publication Date: April 13, 2020
