Bay Area

Coronavirus: San Francisco reports 47 new cases of COVID-19, nears 500 total

By CaliNews 1 hour ago

The rate of new coronavirus cases has slowed somewhat this week in San Francisco, but still, by Friday it was inching toward 500 in the city. Health officials reported 47 new positive tests Friday, bringing the countywide count to 497, doubling at a rate of over a week. The death toll remained at seven for a second consecutive day. According to the state’s dashboard, there were 67 people hospitalized in the city and 30 in intensive care units who had been confirmed to have COVID-19. Another 74 were in hospital or ICU beds with suspected cases. The number of cases in California swelled Thursday to over 11,000. With 33 new cases and three more deaths in San Mateo County and the newest data from San Francisco, the Bay Area went over 3,000 total confirmed cases. That number, however, doesn’t represent the full spectrum of the virus’ spread in the region, health officials warn. While there have been 92,500 tests conducted in California, the state has received results from just over 32,000, leaving nearly 60,000 tests still pending. Related Articles Coronavirus: Here’s where you can pick…

Coronavirus: How to clean your car touchscreen without ruining it

By CaliNews 1 hour ago

The dashboard touchscreen of your car  is a surface that should be cleaned to prevent coronavirus transmission — but, as some unfortunate drivers have learned, you can’t use just any disinfecting wipe. The touchscreen does not take well to strong disinfectants; they can destroy the anti-glare coating and make the screen foggy or blotchy. Manufacturers advise against cleaning the touchscreen with substances that contain alcohol, ammonia,  bleach or hydrogen peroxide. (Though Clorox is associated in the public mind with bleach, their disinfecting wipes contain alcohol and ammonium compounds.) The safe and effective procedure is to use soap and a minimal amount of water. The screens are fairly waterproof, as long as you don’t get too sloppy. Use a soft cloth rather than a paper towel to dry the screen, so as not to scratch it. (The soap-and-water-only advice concerning car touchscreens is stricter than that issued by smartphone makers. Though they say cleaning agents can indeed damage the coating on phone screens, most manufacturers have since the outbreak of coronavirus given the OK to judicious use of Clorox wipes or other alcohol wipes.) For the…

Coronavirus: Instacart to provide masks, sanitizer, thermometers to drivers

By CaliNews 1 hour ago

After a walkout this week by workers over coronavirus-safety issues and pay, groceries-to-your-door giant Instacart says it will provide free face masks, hand sanitizer and forehead thermometers to the people who shop for and deliver food to households. The cotton-and-polyester masks will be washable and reusable and won’t affect supplies for health care professionals, the company said this week. The reusable forehead thermometers will provide an accurate reading in about 15 seconds, according to the San Francisco company. The shopping-and-delivery workers, which Instacart calls “shoppers,” will be able to order the safety items online starting next week, the firm said in a statement Thursday. The move follows labor action this week by a group of workers demanding $5 per hour pandemic hazard pay, plus a boost to the default tip amount in the app, increased and extended pay for shoppers having “a doctor’s note for either a pre-existing condition that’s a known risk factor (for COVID-19) or requiring a self-quarantine,” and coronavirus-safety supplies. The workers’ group called Instacart’s promise of safety items “a far cry from adequate” and “the cheapest way for Instacart to attempt…

Coronavirus: Journalist says she unknowingly infected mom, others

By CaliNews 1 hour ago

By Faith Karimi | CNN Journalist Alice Stockton-Rossini hosted a 90th birthday for her mother last month in New Jersey. At the time, the radio host said, she had no idea she’d been infected with coronavirus while covering an outbreak in New Rochelle, New York. Stockton-Rossini later tested positive for coronavirus, and says she believes she infected people at the party on March 8. Two people have died and six others have tested positive — all linked to the party, she said. Those who tested positive include her parents and her brother-in-law, who’s 56 and is on a ventilator at a hospital in New York City, she said. He was not at the party. “I had no idea how quickly this virus would spread. No idea at all,” she told CNN. “And it is frightening. And it is sobering. And it’s not fun to have to live with the fact that you could make someone extremely sick.” The party, which was at a church in Long Beach Island, was attended by about 25 of her mother’s friends. “The day after the party, my mother got…

James Taylor postpones tour, San Francisco date with Jackson Browne

By CaliNews 1 hour ago

James Taylor has postponed his upcoming tour with Jackson Browne “due to the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19,” according to a news release. Jackson Browne — who recently went public to say he has contracted the coronavirus — is scheduled to be the special guest on tour. The trek includes a date at Chase Center in San Francisco, originally scheduled for May 27. “As this summer’s tour of 27 towns and cities across the US drew near, we’ve been increasingly excited to hit the road again. So it’s deeply disappointing for both of us to have to call it off and reschedule (and reschedule we WILL)! As we all now realize, COVID-19 is a serious, real and present danger. Moreover, our public health is all of our responsibility. So let us listen to and follow the directions of our public healthcare people and support their efforts in this unprecedented time of global pandemic. Love those around you and, above all, stay safe and healthy.” James Taylor and Jackson Browne said in a joint statement. The two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are currently “examining various…

Google publishes movement data to bolster war against coronavirus

By CaliNews 4 hours ago

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Google on Friday disclosed it is publishing the information it harvests from smartphones to help inform government officials how people’s movements are changing in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The search giant said it has started to provide aggregated information about people’s visits to stores, groceries, pharmacies, recreation sites, parks, transit stations, workplaces and homes for an array of locations, including movement trends in the United States and California overall, as well as in individual counties. “Starting today we’re publishing an early release of our COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports to provide insights into what has changed in response to work from home, shelter in place, and other policies aimed at flattening the curve of this pandemic,” Google stated in a blog post on Friday. Google’s mobility report revealed that travelers in the Greater Bay Area’s five counties — Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Mateo County, and San Francisco — have all increased their visits to residences to a greater degree than is the case in either the United States or California, according to this news organization’s review of…

Nonprofit theaters weather ‘shelter in place’ order

By CaliNews 4 hours ago

That old expression “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” has never been more apt for theater companies throughout the Bay Area, which are dark until the “shelter in place” order is lifted. But necessity is the mother of invention, and local theater companies like Hillbarn Theatre, Peninsula Youth Theatre (PYT), Dragon Theatre, Los Altos Stage Company (LASC) and others are finding innovative ways to entertain, educate and occasionally even bring in a little cash. Dragon Theatre put together a series of digital events with remarkable speed, starting with a nearly two-hour presentation on Vimeo of “MacBeth” (for a $10 rental fee), which Dragon produced last year. Dragon also offers a full schedule of streaming events starting with “The Covid Crew Review” featuring several actors in separate locations running a trivia game. “That was one of our more logistically and technically challenging events,” says co-artistic director Max Koknar, who himself has been reading Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories and poems using virtual technology. Hillbarn Theatre Artistic Director Dan Demers is also hard at work developing the virtual means to “get some new programming out to…

Letter: We’re asking MDs and RNs to volunteer to risk their lives

By CaliNews 4 hours ago

We’re asking MDs, RNs to volunteer to risk their lives Re: “Retired doctors, nursing, med students: California wants you” (Mercurynews.com, March 31): During the current COVID-19 pandemic, California and New York City are desperate for retired or nonworking health care professionals to come help take care of the onslaught of sick people. There are many nurses and doctors who are more than willing to pitch in and help during this crisis. However, the extreme shortage of Personal Protective Equipment is already putting our current health care workers at risk. My daughter is an RN and currently not employed as a nurse. She would be willing to come here and work anywhere she was needed if she knew there were enough PPE to keep her safe. Related Articles Letter: Many are helping us survive this crisis — for example… Letter: Higher taxes may hit small businesses just like COVID-19 has Letter: Kaiser and John Muir Health are asking for homemade masks Letter: Like many who will receive a relief check, I don’t need it Letter: A  victory for Concord’s voiceless neighbors Unless we can provide proper…

Kim Kardashian’s latest passion — ‘The Justice Project’

By CaliNews 4 hours ago

Kim Kardashian might be the queen of Instagram, a reality TV star, entrepreneur, wife, mother and even a future lawyer. But somehow she also finds time to right some wrongs. “Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project” is a new two-hour documentary debuting Sunday night (7 p.m., Oxygen) that chronicles her work alongside legal experts to secure freedom for individuals who she believes have been unfairly sentenced. She first became interested in this type of work when she helped to convince President Trump to grant Alice Marie Johnson clemency last June. Johnson, a 64-year-old great-grandmother, had been serving lifetime prison sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. Kardashian, who has completed her first year of law studies, recently answered questions about the film and her interest in advocacy during and after a press conference to promote the show: Kardashian meets with an inmate.  Q: How do you decide which people to help? A: Every case I chose is really personal to me. A lot of the time it’s from a letter that I receive from someone on the inside that just really touches my heart and something…

What’s giving a Pacheco cat nightmares?

By CaliNews 4 hours ago

DEAR JOAN: Our 7-year old orange tabby, Joey, did something strange the other day. While he was sleeping on my lap, he suddenly began making almost crying sounds and his tail started thumping against the chair. Within a couple of minutes, his eyes opened and the crying and thumping stopped. Could he be having a nightmare? Karen Pippig, Pacheco DEAR KAREN: Most likely, yes. We know, thanks to researchers who do find the oddest, most fascinating things to research, that most animals dream. And cats, it turns out, have the most dreams. I suppose they like to dream about all the things they are going to knock off the shelves and all the catnip mice that need roughing up and drool treatment. The truth might be that cats sleep more than other pets. Kittens sleep 20 hours a day on average, and adults slumber for around 16 hours. That gives them a lot of opportunity for dreaming. If you dream, you also have the propensity for nightmares. We don’t really know what haunts them in their sleep, but researchers say it’s not the same things that torment…

Simple DIY mask-making tips to fight against coronavirus

By CaliNews 7 hours ago

“Stay in your place, maintain your space and cover your face.” — Bruce Barton, director of the Riverside County Emergency Management Department. The chances of a simple mask protecting you from the coronavirus are not good, but they can be made at home and are helpful in some ways. Here’s a few ways to make them. DIY in 1-2-3 Do-it-yourself face masks are not as effective as medical grade masks at preventing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. But if you need a mask to go out or to care for someone who is sick, DIY might be your only option. Masks come in many shapes, and tutorials abound on the Internet, including no-sew versions. Here is a simple mask to sew by machine or by hand with materials you might have at home. 1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric. Fold over…

GIF shows how cases of coronavirus in California grew from ten to 8,155 in March

By CaliNews 7 hours ago

The number of people in California who tested positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of March was ten. By the end of the month, that number had ballooned to 8,155, according to the California Department of Public Health. The number of cases of COVID-19 being confirmed in California each day grew steadily through the month of March (Animation by Kevin Sablan, SCNG)  The department started reporting daily updates early in the month, with the biggest jump on the last day of March, when 1,223 cases were reported. Divided over 24 hours, that turns out to be about 51 cases per hour. People between the ages of 18 and 49 made up half of the cases. The next largest group, between 50 and 64 years of age, accounted for 26% with 2,131 total cases. There were 1,764 confirmations of seniors at least 65 years old, and 90 minors have tested positive. Males accounted for 52% of the confirmed cases. Females were 46%, and the remaining 135 cases were listed as missing or unknown. There were also 171 deaths reported by March 31. Here is the CDPH…

Letter: Kaiser and John Muir Health are asking for homemade masks

By CaliNews 7 hours ago

Hospitals want homemade masks, but made to spec Re: “Homemade masks are a big hit — just not with hospitals” (Page B1, March 30): The headline is very misleading, and hopefully it does not discourage people from trying to help. I have been in touch with “mask-making programs” for hospitals in Washington, Indiana, Georgia, Ohio and more. Yes, each hospital has its own specifications for masks that they want. But they do want them. There are many patterns online. Before anyone just jumps in to sew, they should contact the organization of their choice to receive donation information and the pattern and instructions for masks that they would like to receive. Related Articles Letter: Like many who will receive a relief check, I don’t need it Letter: A  victory for Concord’s voiceless neighbors Letter: If we can keep this up, we can solve any challenge Letter: We need reassurance; Trump provides none Letter: COVID-19 crisis shows we must change our economy Kaiser Permanente and John Muir Health are both asking for masks. Many nursing homes, memory care centers and senior facilities that are glad to…

Scouting report: How 49ers, their 2020 opponents blitzed free agency

By CaliNews 7 hours ago

Look, if the NFL is strategically optimistic that a full season will start punctually in five months, then let’s scout what the 49ers will encounter on their so-called Super Bowl Revenge Tour. Here is a recap of moves the 49ers and their opponents have made as they transition from free agency to draft preparations, with the schedule due out by May 9: SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 19: San Francisco 49ers defense players pose for a photograph after teammate Emmanuel Moseley (41) intercepted a pass by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) in the second quarter of their NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)  49ERS 2019: 13-3, NFC Champions WHO’S IN: DT Arik Armstead, FS Jimmie Ward, DE Ronald Blair, C Ben Garland, OT Shon Coleman, G Tom Compton, WR Travis Benjamin, DE Kerry Hyder, LB Joe Walker. WHO’S OUT: DT DeForest Buckner, WR Emmanuel Sanders, G Mike Person DT Sheldon Day, TE Levine Toilolo, LB Elijah Lee, DE Anthony Zetter. IMPACT: Trading Buckner to Indy for the 13th-overall…

Warriors were ‘a little nervous’ before Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals

By CaliNews 7 hours ago

Over the next few weeks, NBC Sports Bay Area and 95.7 The Game (KGMZ-FM) will be re-airing several classic Warriors games on nights they were scheduled to play before the NBA suspending it’s season indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke with the Bay Area News Group about his memories from those games. The Warriors took some 2,900 3-pointers and won 83 regular-season and postseason games. Stephen Curry broke his own 3-point shooting record, scored 2,500 points and garnered 100 first-place votes on his way to earning MVP. The 2014-15 Warriors dazzled and destroyed en route to claiming their first championship in 40 years, and embarking on a five-year dynastic run. Without Kyrie Irving, who went down with a fractured kneecap in Game 1, and Kevin Love, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first round, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 2-1 series lead. However, the Warriors made key adjustments to help them win three of the final four matchups, defeating the Cavaliers in six games to win the 2015 NBA Finals. The most important adjustment was made…

Miss Manners: Snob judges hostess, then eats carpet chicken

By CaliNews 10 hours ago

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I went to dinner for the first time in the home of a fellow artist friend and her husband. It was immediately apparent that entertaining was not her forte: Hors d’oeuvres consisted of two bags of chips and two tubs of dip opened on the kitchen counter. Judith Martin  As we sat down for dinner, the hostess tripped on her way to the table and dropped the dish of chicken and potatoes, the entire contents of which landed on the carpet. I offered to help rinse the food, but she just placed it back in the dish and set it on the table. I was appalled, but not wanting to be rude, I politely ate the food, fighting back a gag reflex. What would you have done? GENTLE READER: Likely the same. However, Miss Manners is amused by the implication in the first part of your letter. It appears two-fold: that your hostess somehow deserved her fate and that in the wake of it, there was nothing decent to eat. Related Articles Miss Manners: Did they deserve to be invited to our…

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