Jacob’s Journal – Weekly News Rewind (06/21-06/27)

Delta COVID-19 Variant a Growing Concern in Los Angeles County

Tuesday, June 22 (Fox 11) – On Sunday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Heath reported 258 cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths, bringing the totals to 1,247,618 cases and 24,441 fatalities in the county. State figures revealed 213 people hospitalized on Sunday, down from 219 on Saturday; the number of COVID patients in intensive care rose to 45. The highly transmissible Delta variant is of particular interest. There were 64 cases of infections between late April and early June in L.A. County; the health department says much of the transmission of this variant is happening within households.

County officials are urging people to continue being careful, although most restrictions in California have been lifted. As of June 17, nearly 4.4 million people in the county have been vaccinated. Just 1,696 have tested positive (a 0.04% positivity rate), 139 had to be hospitalized, and 19 have died. Officials are urging people to get vaccinated while various incentives are being offered, including concert tickets, free theme park admission, and vacation packages. They also stressed the variant may cause more severe illness, but fully vaccinated people appear to be protected against infections with Delta variants.

COVID-19 Cases Increasing in California

Monday, June 21 (Redding.com) – In the week ending Sunday, June 20, new coronavirus cases in California increased 6.2%, as 6,530 cases were added. There were 6,148 new cases the previous week. A USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows California ranked 31^st among states where the virus was spreading fastest. Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases decreased 19.6% from the week before. Within California, the worst outbreaks are currently in Modoc, Sierra, and Mendocino Counties; Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento Counties added the most new cases overall.

About 60% of California residents are at least partially vaccinated, ranking it 13^th among states where people had at least one shot; the national rate is 53.3%. The state reported administering another 1,076,492 vaccine doses, for a total of 41,478,634. Cases fell in 31 counties while the number of reported dead of COVID-19 fell to 142. Johns Hopkins University Data shows a total of 3,808,258 people have tested positive in the state and 63,335 have died from the disease since the pandemic began.

COVID Emergency Temporary Standards Revision Approved by Cal/OSHA

Tuesday, June 22 (The National Law Review) – After withdrawing prior proposed revisions, the California Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board has approved revisions to the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). These revisions align with current guidance from the California Department of Public Heath (CDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The executive order puts the regulations in effect immediately instead of a typical 10-day approval period.

Applying to most employees and places of employment, the Revised ETS maintains several requirements, such as having a written COVID-19 Prevention Program, providing employees with adequate training, and others. Key changes include fully vaccinated employees don’t need face coverings in the workplace, or practice physical distancing, unless an outbreak occurs. Those not fully vaccinated must wear face coverings indoors or in vehicles. Employers must also offer free COVID-19 testing at no cost during paid working time under specific conditions. Quarantine periods don’t apply to employees who are fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus within the last 90 days.

The revised standards also provide guidelines on documenting vaccination status. Employers aren’t required to ask about whether an employee has been vaccinated. They must treat employees as unvaccinated if their status is unknown. Employers are encouraged to review their COVID-19 safety protocols, revise their prevention policies to reflect the latest changes, and update safety procedures.

Ten Injured, Including a Man Crossing the Street, in Van Nuys Crash

Tuesday, June 22 (NBC Los Angeles) – On Monday, ten people were injured in a four-vehicle crash in Van Nuys. The accident at the 7400 block of Van Nuys Boulevard resulted in eight people being hospitalized. Two others declined medical treatment. One of the victims was a man struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. Victims were also trapped in mangled wreckage and had to be freed by firefighters. While details on what led to the crash aren’t available, it started as an impact between two vehicles, which then struck parked cars at the intersection.

Single-Engine Plane Catches Fire After Crash Near Big Bear City Airport

Tuesday, June 22 (CBS Los Angeles) – According to authorities, a single-engine plane attempting to land at Big Bear City Airport on Tuesday crashed and caught fire. The Piper PA-28 crashed into a vacant lot at the corner of Meadow Lane and Nana Avenue, the Federal Aviation Administration said, with two people on board. The pilot and passenger were airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center with moderate to serious injuries after bystanders pulled them to safety. A power outage resulted from the crash, but electrical service was restored to nearby residents later in the evening. Airport crews started removing the wreckage shortly before 8:00 p.m.; the incident is currently under investigation.

Michael Dubay Killed in Pedestrian Accident on Railroad Canyon Road

Tuesday, June 22 (LA Weekly) – Michael Dubay, 29, was struck and killed Thursday morning while crossing Railroad Canyon Road, near Canyon Lake Drive. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. Police determined the man was struck while crossing outside a marked crosswalk, after which the driver stopped and called 911. He was uninjured and remained at the scene for questioning. The incident is being investigated by the Canyon Lake Police.

22 Year Old Killed in Terrible Freeway Crash | Lake Elsinore

Friday, June 18 (ONSCENE.TV) – A Honda Pilot collided with a semi truck in Lake Elsinore on Friday, June 18, while traveling north on I-15. The California Highway Patrol and CalFire Riverside responded. At the time, the Honda was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed when it approached a semi stopped at a construction zone and hit the rear of the truck. The vehicle almost went under the semi, killing a 22-year-old female from Canyon Lake. She was the lone occupant of the vehicle.

Wrong-Way Driver Fatally Shot in California Police Pursuit

Wednesday, June 23 (U.S. News & World Report) – On Wednesday, two men driving solen trucks were shot dead by law enforcement officers in two different incidents, according to authorities. A CHP officer fatally shot a man on Interstate 10 in Fontana, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, after a wrong-way chase in a flatbed truck. Treated for minor injuries, a passenger in the truck, which weas reported stolen in San Bernardino the night before, was taken into custody. More than 50 miles to the southeast, Los Angles County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man following a chase with a utility box van reported to be driving erratically in Norwalk. When stopped shortly before 10:00 a.m., he was shot when he pulled out what looked like a handgun, which deputies later determined was not.