Music part of next phase of STEM education A3
Big questions face Warriors as 2021 campaign kicks off B1
Friday | December 4, 2020 | $1.00
dailyrepublic.com | Well said. Well read.
covid-19 pandemic
Newsom sets new limits on businesses, activities Los Angeles Times SACRAMENTO — Californians will be asked to comply with strict new limits on community outings, travel and inperson shopping under a new statewide order issued Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a set of far-reaching restrictions tied to regional strains on critical care services as Covid-19 cases continue to rise. The rules are designed to last for at least 21 days once local critical care facilities approach capacity. But the expectations set by state officials suggest that what
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic
People walk through the Nut Tree retail shopping area in Vacaville while observing health and safety
protocols that are in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19, Thursday.
Solano tops 11,000 cases
Newsom described as a “regional stay-at-home” order will sharply limit activities across California throughout the holiday season and possibly into the new year. “The bottom line is, if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said in a midday news conference. “If we don’t act now, we’ll continue to see our death rate climb, more lives lost.” Eleven counties in Southern California and 12 counties in the Central Valley could be required to implement the new See Newsom, Page A8
Placed in new state ICU-watch region Todd R. Hansen thansen@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that California’s Covid-19 restrictions on places of worship are unconstitutional. The decision had no dissenting votes. Dr. Bela Matyas, the Solano County public health officer, has long been on record with his concerns over the state’s actions as
they relate to churches, and fully expected the court’s decision to come down at some point. Matyas said Solano County has been working with the faith community on the best way to conduct services safely – using social distancing and face coverings, for example – rather than trying to prevent residents from attending services. Some churches have used virtual services as well. “We’ve always had a good
relationship with the (religious) community,” Matyas said. That work began in April, Matyas said. The Supreme Court decision came on the same day Solano County topped the 11,000-case mark and on the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom set up a series of regions throughout the state that will use the availability of intensive care unit beds as the metric
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Owner and chef Trevor Nettman protests at “A March To Save Small Businesses” in Long Beach, Wednesday.
Momentum builds for bipartisan $908 billion stimulus package
See Cases, Page A8
Solano County clarifies school guidance for cases, exposure Todd R. Hansen thansen@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Public Health Division posted on its webpage this week guidance for what schools are to do if they have or if they suspect a Covid-19 case. The guidance is basically the same as the original document, but
did amend some language so schools are more clear as to what they should do. “I think the reason we posted (the guidance) was for clarity . . . on how to handle Matyas student cases and contacts,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county public health officer, said in a
phone interview. He said there are 10 schools that are open in the county. The first thing the district is directed to do is to contact the Public Health Division. But the document also offers guidance on various scenarios, such as a student or staff
Los Angeles Times
member who is showing symptoms of Covid-19. st udents T hose or staff will be sent home, according to the document. People waiting for transportation will wait in an “isolated space,” the document states. It also recommends the person be tested for the disease. See School, Page A8
WASHINGTON — Pressure is building on Congress to pass another economic aid package before the end of the year, and Democratic and Republican leaders said Thursday they’re hopeful a deal is possible. But with only a few days left on the legislative calendar, it’s far from certain that optimism will lead to actual relief
for millions of Americans who stand to lose pandemic-related assistance after Dec. 31. have Lawmakers become increasingly panicked about leaving Washington for the year without providing another round of assistance as coronavirus cases and deaths surge across the country, and hospital intensive care See Stimulus, Page A8
Solano receives $147M in SB 1 funds for 2 I-80 projects Todd R. Hansen thansen@dailyrepublic.net
FAIRFIELD — Eighteen miles of Express Lanes will be added to westbound Interstate 80 from Travis Boulevard to the Interstate 505 exit, work that is expected to start in 2021. The $275 million project includes $123 million in Senate Bill 1 funding that was
recently awarded, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission announced. Supervisor Jim Spering, who sits on the commission board and the Solano Transportation Authority board, called the project critical in alleviating commuter congestion. “This is a project the county has been working on for about four years,” Spering said Thurs-
day in a phone interview. “That is going to get us up through Vacaville, and reduce some of that congestion that we see starting about 3 p.m.” Spering said it will also help with weekend and holiday traffic, and supports the use of express buses and carpooling. The next stage will be to take the lanes out to Dixon. “SB 1 money is essential to
keeping the California economy moving, not just through the current crisis, but into the post-pandemic future,” Scott Haggerty, the MTC chairman and an Alameda County supervisor, said in a statement. “The Bay Area’s success in the stiff competition for these dollars reflects the clear need to modernize our freeways, transit systems and freight corridors to maintain the
coming this weekend SUNDAY Parade coming this weekend. Look for the insert in the Daily Republic.
SUNDAY BUSINESS
See Projects, Page A8
INDEX Business ����������������������������������� A10 Classifieds ��������������������������������� B6 Columns ������������������������������������� A6 weather
69 39 Muslims reel over a prayer app that sold data.
Bay Area’s position as an engine for economic growth throughout the state.” The $123 million is part of $407 million awarded for Bay Area projects. Included in that is $24 million for the final design phase for a new Cordelia Truck Scales facility along westbound I-80.
Plenty of sunshine. Complete five-day forecast on B9.
Comics ��������������������������������� A7, B4 Crossword ��������������������������� A6, B5 Entertainment ��������������������� B4, B5
Opinion ��������������������������������������� A5 Sports ����������������������������������������� B1 TV Daily ��������������������������������� A7, B4
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