California will review the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines that receive federal approval before distributing them to the public, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. The governor announced the creation of a new work group of physicians and scientists working with the California Department of Public Health that will “independently review” all federal Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines, he said. “Of course, we don’t take anyone’s word for it,” Newsom said at a news conference on Monday. “We will do our own independently reviewed process with our world-class experts that just happen to live here in the state of California.” Vaccines, […]Read full article >

Authorities in California don’t anticipate the mass availability of a COVID-19 vaccine until 2021, but once it’s ready, people at high-risk will be prioritized, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. The governor announced that the state is one of five U.S. jurisdictions that have started advanced planning of the distribution of a vaccine in coordination with the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Defense. The state’s plan will be implemented in phases: pre-vaccine, limited doses available, larger number of doses available and sufficient supply of doses for entire population. The earlier […]Read full article >

As California sees a decline in new coronavirus cases, Los Angeles County officials on Monday are updating the public on the region’s response to COVID-19. State and local officials have been closely watching the latest figures as they weigh when and how to reopen businesses and public facilities. L.A. County officials over the past several weeks have allowed some sectors to reopen for indoor settings at reduced capacity. However, the county remains in the state’s most restrictive tier for reopening — Tier 1, or purple — because it continues to report more than 7 cases per 100,000 residents each day. That means that schools are shut, and […]Read full article >

Skiing and snowboarding won’t be much different on the slopes when Lake Tahoe ski resorts begin reopening next month but a variety of changes are planned indoors because of COVID-19. Capacity limits will be in place and some resorts are adopting reservation systems but masks and social-distancing requirements won’t phase skiers. Mount Rose spokesman Travis Bennett says the beauty of the ski industry is social distancing already exists. Wearing face coverings, masks and gloves are part of normal attire. At least outdoors, he says it’s going to be business as usual. Heavenly and Northstar are the first scheduled to open Nov. […]Read full article >

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the planet has surpassed 40 million, and that number will keep climbing as the United States enters a third peak, generating more than 50,000 daily virus cases. In the U.S., some states are trying more targeted measures as cases continue to rise across the country. New York’s new round of virus shutdowns zeroes in on individual neighborhoods, closing schools and businesses in hot spots measuring just a couple of square miles. On Friday, new confirmed cases climbed over the 70,000 mark — a total the country hasn’t seen since the middle of July. Additionally, the U.S. seeing cases rise […]Read full article >

Congress has just hours left to deliver more coronavirus relief before the election, with differences between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, her Senate Republican rivals and President Donald Trump proving durable despite the glaring needs of the country. Significant differences remain in the way of an informal Tuesday deadline set by Pelosi if the talks are going to lead to legislation being delivered to Trump before the election. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows took to the airwaves Monday to deliver an optimistic appraisal to the markets and to promise larger direct payments for families than the $1,200 per adult and $500 per child […]Read full article >