April 9, 2020 Media Brief
Coronavirus
Daily Pilot: Orange County breaks 1,000 mark for coronavirus cases
The county Health Care Agency said Wednesday that 1,016 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 17 people have died. The current cumulative case count comes from 11,791 tests.
Voice of OC: OC health officer strongly recommends masks for essential employees
Essential workers in Orange County, including at grocery stores, are now being advised to wear non-medical grade masks in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Health Officer Nichole Quick issued an advisory Thursday “strongly encouraging” all essential employees masks, which include food industry and health care workers.
Voice of OC: OC property owners get less hardship clarity about late property taxes
As Friday’s deadline to pay property taxes approaches, Orange County’s tax collector refuses to say what kinds of economic hardship from the ongoing COVID-19 shutdowns will qualify for late fee waivers.
OC Register: Disobeying coronavirus stay at home order can lead to arrest
That’s what a few water enthusiasts have learned, with one ticketed in Manhattan Beach for defying closure signs. If you’re planning a block party, you too might get a stern talking to from officers, or an order to disperse: Police in some cities have responded to large gatherings armed with loud speakers and even helicopters.
Labor
LA Times: Labor groups ask congress to reject Uber CEO plea
A coalition of about 50 labor groups is asking congressional leaders to reject Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi’s proposal for a new legal category that would allow the company to keep treating its workers as independent contractors while affording them partial employee benefits.
Washington Post: 66 million Americans filed for unemployment last week
More than 17 million new jobless claims have been filed in the past four weeks, a rapid and unprecedented escalation in unemployment in the United States since the week Administration declared a national emergency because of the novel coronavirus.
California
KTLA: Newsom defends California lending 500 ventilators to other states and announces aid for medical workers
Calling it “the right thing to do,” Gov. Gavin Newsom defended his decision Thursday to lend 500 ventilators to states struggling with rising COVID-19 infections.
KTLA: Coronavirus cases have increased sevenfold among state inmates
The number of inmates infected with coronavirus in the California prison system grew by more than seven times in a little more than a week, while staff cases nearly tripled, leaving some behind bars fearful that cases will explode even as officials have begun taking steps to slow the spread.
Publication Date: April 9, 2020
