COVID PM: California’s case rates are the third lowest among all states

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As offices re-open and traffic worsens, an innovative program called GO Santa Cruz offers a more sustainable way to...

Happy Monday evening — here is today’s news you can use:

California has one of the lowest coronavirus transmission levels in the U.S.

Santa Monica, CALIFORNIA—May 30, 2021--People flock to Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica beach on Memorial Day, May 30, 2021. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) — People flock to the Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Beach on Memorial Day as coronavirus cases continued to tumble statewide. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

California’s continued progress: As of Monday, California’s seven-day case rate per 100,000 people was 11, tied with Nebraska for the third-lowest among all states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California is behind only Vermont, with a 6.9 seven-day case rate, and South Dakota, with 9.2. More from the LA Times on that here.

Study shows young kids can be safe in school setting without vaccine

Students who were previously socially distanced 6 feet apart can now be separated by 3 feet under revised state guidelines. — Students wear masks and sit at socially distanced desks at a school in Ramona, Calif. Such measures will help reduce the risk of coronavirus outbreaks when schools reopen, a study finds. (Ramona Sentinel)

For places where coronavirus is under control: It’s unlikely that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available for children under 12 before classes resume in the fall. But a new study has found that when elementary-school children mask up and maintain some distance from one another over the course of the school day, a single infected child will likely pass the infection to fewer than one other student, on average, over the course of 30 days. More from the Times on that here.

Inside the California organization tracking anti-Asian hate incidents

Russell Jeung, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, near the office of Chinese for Affirmative Action in San Francisco Chinatown on May 7, 2021. Jeung is an Asian American Studies professor at San Francisco State University. Photo by Harika Maddala

“Hey Coronavirus, why don’t you take yourself and go home”: Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based coalition, has recorded nearly 7,000 hate incidents involving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders nationwide since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s become a key source of information for the media and for advocates looking to stop the surge of racist attacks. More from CalMatters on this here.

Previous Lookout coverage:

Mas and Marcia Hashimoto in 2021. — Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

➤ The Hashimoto doctrine: Keep vigilant against racism and stand up for civil rights for Asian Americans
➤ When he endured racism at a Santa Cruz donut shop last year, Spike Wong did what he does: He wrote about it
➤ ‘I don’t deserve to be called that’: Asian American teens in Santa Cruz County talk race, identity, pain
➤ Seeking ‘safety & community’: College minister forms local Asian American group, plans vigil to grieve, heal
➤ ‘To some I’ll never be seen as a local’: Hundreds gather to honor Atlanta victims, support AAPI cause
➤ ‘Disgust, fear, and sadness’: Public Facebook post documents anti-Asian incident in Santa Cruz County

Nearly half the county’s school district chiefs are retiring

Supes retiring — From left to right, Laurie Bruton, superintendent at San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District; Lorie Chamberland, superintendent at Live Oak School District; Michelle McKinny, superintendent at Happy Valley Union Elementary School District; and Diane Morgenstern, superintendent at Mountain Elementary School District. Credit: Contributed

Was it pandemic-related? New district chiefs are stepping in at the San Lorenzo Valley Unified, Live Oak, Mountain Elementary and Happy Valley Union Elementary school districts this summer — 4/10 public school districts in Santa Cruz County. The County Office of Education is offering extra support to ease the transition. More from Nick Ibarra here.