COVID PM: How will a loosening of the workplace masking rule complicate matters?
Happy Thursday, everyone.
Business owners, managers and workers will face an interesting path ahead after, as expected, the state loosened up its masking and social distancing rules for vaccinated employees on Thursday.
More on that and the other news of the day...
California loosens mask rules for vaccinated employees
A state board ends physical distancing requirement: California’s circuitous journey to relaxing coronavirus-related workplace safety rules finally reached its destination after a state board voted Thursday to endorse a proposal that would end physical distancing requirements for all workers and allow most fully vaccinated employees in many workplaces to stop wearing masks. More from the LA Times here.
Are you a local business owner, manager or worker? We’d love to hear from you about how this will affect you. Send email to news@lookoutlocal.com
Stimulus, unemployment checks help child support debt collection hit new high
How it happened: During the height of the pandemic, the state clawed stimulus and unemployment checks from parents who owe child support debt to the government. The Newsom administration put a stop to the practice by the time the second stimulus checks went out, but California still retained a record $430 million in 2020. More from CalMatters here.
Hula’s Island Grill: riding the COVID wave to a better future
Hula’s Island Grill: riding the COVID wave to a better future
Quick Take
Hula’s Island Grill has been a fixture in the community since 2006, but when the pandemic hit, they experienced...
Summer school options: California hits record enrollment, but is it enough?
A statewide look: The state provided $4.6 billion in additional funding for summer school to combat learning loss. But summer school offerings vary across the state. More from CalMatters here.
Californians will again have to show they’re job hunting to receive unemployment benefits
How will it work? With the pandemic waning, Californians who receive unemployment benefits will have to show next month that they are looking for work, a requirement that the state waived last year when COVID-19 led to economic upheaval. More from the Times here.
In new milestone, California administers 40 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine
A week of milestones: California has hit another major turning point in the fight against the pandemic: More than 40 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered across the state. More from the Times here.
Quick Take
In recognition of UC Santa Cruz’s 2021 commencement, we present a few of our amazing grads. These scholars represent the...
More from here & elsewhere
➤ Researchers warn of ‘impending wave of evictions’ (ABC News)
➤ Without China’s Cooperation, Efforts to Investigate The Origins of COVID-19 Have Stalled (NPR)
➤ Delta COVID-19 variant is now in more than 80 countries, WHO says (ABC News)
➤ Sperm count not harmed by Covid-19 vaccine, study says (CNN)
➤ A COVID Outbreak At The U.S. Embassy In Kabul Has Sickened 114 People And Killed 1 (NPR)
➤ There’s a major update on the re-opening of SF’s beloved Tonga Room (SF Gate)
➤ Researchers present more evidence coronavirus vaccines protect against variants (CNN)
➤ Opinion: Sam Darnold, Adam Thielen, Jason Heyward and all the other anti-vax pro athletes deserve to be booed (SF Gate)
Hey — tomorrow is Friday!
Mark Conley
Deputy Managing Editor