DAILY REPUBLIC — Monday, January 17, 2022 A7
Hospitals: Worry From Page One And in Fresno County – which was pummeled by last year’s surge – more than 300 hospital workers were out sick two weeks ago, Emergency Medical Services Director Dan Lynch said. The county has secured emergency staff resources from the state through the end of February, Lynch said, andreinstated instructions to EMTs to only transport the most critically ill patients in ambulances. “We have far more people that are in need of care and fewer people to provide that care,” Coyle said. The California Department of Public Health last week quietly put out guidance allowing asymptomatic Covid-positive staff to return to work without isolation or additional testing. The guidance, although voluntary, sparked outrage among labor groups like the California Nurses Association and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers. Coyle said hospitals have also expressed concern about the guidance and most have indicated they do not intend to implement it. In Lynwood, south of Los Angeles, veteran nurse Ana Bergeron said her hospital is severely understaffed and already implemented the asymptomatic policy. The
emergency department, which typically staffs 15 nurses, had only five working several days ago. Bergeron’s floor, which usually assigns a maximum of four patients to each nurse, had each nurse caring for nine patients. “There’s not one department in my hospital that is absolutely fully staffed,” Bergeron said. Bergeron said, despite the severe shortages, that the asymptomatic policy andshortened quarantines for symptomatic workers are not the solution. Sick colleagues who have come back after five days are “exhausted and unfocused,” she said. “We have just thrown any kind of common sense out the door,” Bergeron said. “How do you isolate yourself from the rest of us when you’re doing close proximity work with patients and their nurses and other technicians?” Many hospitals have already beguncanceling elective procedures to alleviate the strain, and the state health department is considering an order to hospitals that would postpone many procedures, according to one high-ranking state official who spoke to county health officers at a public meeting the week before last. Kristen Hwang reports on health care and policy for CalMatters.
Tests: Grow costly From Page One least they finally got some peace of mind. With the explosion of the highly transmissible omicron variant, more Californians find themselves seeking tests wherever they can find them. State and local testing sites offer free Covid-19 tests but they are swamped, forcing people to seek private pop-up clinics. Quick results often come with hefty upfront costs: Some clinics charge nearly $300 for a rapid PCR test. Although state and federal regulations require Covid tests to be free or covered by health insurance, people often have to pay upfront, and the amount is unaffordable for many Californians. Those who can’t afford to pay will often have to wait hours in line at local and state free testing sites, and then sometimes wait days for the lab results. “There is a requirement that testing be free, but there is no requirement of how fast those test results need to be returned,” said Shira Shafir, a UCLA professor of epidemiology. “With this omicron surge, some people are again waiting four to five days for those lab results and at that point those results are essentially useless.” Adding to the demand for quick results is that certain places demand proof of testing within a time frame of 24 to 72 hours. People need them to visit nursing and senior homes, return to daycare programs or board flights to Hawaii or overseas. Pop-up sites at California’s international
airports charge upfront. At San Francisco International Airport, a rapid test is $275. At Los Angeles International Airport, a rapid PCR test with results in one hour costs $199. According to one LAX provider, Clarity Mobile Venture, debit or credit card payments are required, although a receipt is provided for insurance reimbursement. At San Diego International Airport, the cost is $135 to $165, and at Long Beach Airport, a test with 1.5hour results costs $250. At the Lakewood clinic where Santucci went, costs range from $129 for a rapid antigen test with one-hour results to $299 for a PCR test with two-hour results. The clinic also advertises a free standard PCR test with results in two or more days. “With rapid tests, what people may be paying for is the guarantee of quick results,” Shafir said. “The test site is not always pitching it that way.” PCR and antigen tests are both used to diagnose Covid-19; antigen tests can yield faster results but PCR tests are more sensitive to detecting the virus so they are considered more accurate. Health experts say getting results quickly is vital to protecting people and avoiding long quarantines, but rapid tests have long been in short supply. Save your receipts Californians have an array of places where they can be tested: a hodgepodge of pharmacies, community clinics, government mass-testing sites and private pop-up sites. Many of these are free, but they are booked for weeks.
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Tennis star loses chance to play Tribune Content Agency Novak Djokovic has left Australia after his anti-vaccination stance cost him a potential payday of A$2.875 million ($2.1 million) and a shot at tennis history. The Serbian boarded a flight from Melbourne Airport late Sunday night, local media reported, after the nation’s Federal Court upheld a decision to revoke his entry permit over fears his presence would strengthen antivaccination sentiment. It wasn’t up to the court to decide on the merits of the decision, only whether it was illogical or legally unreasonable, Chief Justice James Allsop
said Sunday. “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” Djokovic said in an emailed statement. “I will now be taking some time to rest and to recuperate.” It’s a blow to Djokovic’s hopes of winning a record 21st Grand Slam singles title and its sizable prize money. The world’s top-ranked player has won the Australian Open the past three years and notched almost half of his Grand Slam titles at the tournament. The Association of Tennis Professionals said in a statement that Djokovic was one of the sport’s
greatest champions and that his absence from the Australian Open was “a loss for the game”. “We know how turbulent the recent days have been for Novak and how much he wanted to defend his title in Melbourne. We wish him well and look forward to seeing him back on court soon. “ATP continues to strongly recommend vaccination to all players,” the association added. Djokovic is paying a high price for seeking to bypass an entry requirement in one of the world’s most vaccinated countries. Hostcity Melbourne endured strict lockdowns during the pandemic.
State: Will Covid sick leave return? From Page One comment on that argument, or whether any aid for businesses is under consideration. “We’re working with the Legislature to craft a policy that meets the needs of 2022 – which are different than 2021’s, given new and revised information about science and vaccines,” said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for Newsom’s finance department. In voicing his support for renewing the leave, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon suggested he would be open to aiding some employers. “In the absence of new federal funding to assist small businesses with Covid sick leave requirements, I support augmenting the governor’s budget to add state funding for this purpose, and we have already had a productive discussion on this,” Rendon said in a statement. The omicron surge this year – with California now reporting nearly 60,000 coronavirus cases a day – is causing staffing shortages in health care and other essential workplaces. Federal guidelines, endorsed by state health officials, recommend that anyone, regardless of vaccination status, should quarantine for five days if they test positive. On Jan. 8, however, in response to the staffing issues, the state made an exception for some asymptomatic health care workers until Feb. 1. “We believe it’s important to value those workers and provide them sick leave protections,” Newsom said at his budget rollout Jan. 10.
has 700,000 members in 17 local unions, is also amping up the pressure on legislators. “As omicron continues to spread, it is critical that the administration has signaled its commitment to providing workers supplemental paid sick leave that we need to keep ourselves, our colleagues, our families, our clients and patients, and our communities safe,” union President Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic file (2020) Bob Schoonover said in Tina Vo gives Stephen Hull an outdoor haircut at Hair a statement. Place in Fairfield in 2020. In response to the argument Democratic leaders of shortage right now. Why chamber’s the Legislature agree. would people re-enter about paid leave dis“We look forward to the workforce if they’re couraging workers from vaccinated, working out the details told that if they contract getting and reaching early agree- Covid-19 or the variant SEIU interim Execument on this budget of Covid-19, that they’re tive Director Tia Orr said action,” Senate President not going to be paid for employees deserve time Pro Tem Toni Atkins told the time off?” Cortese off, whatever their vacciCalMatters. said. “We’re working nation status. “We used to be called A s s e m b l y w o m a n against our own interWendy Carrillo, a Dem- ests right now in the state heroes and saints. There ocrat from Los Angeles, of California and again, were cartoons of us with said given the budget we need to correct that capes on our backs. Now we’re forced to choose surplus, it was the right immediately.” time to protect workers The governor’s support between our bills being and help struggling small came after months of lob- paid and the state of businesses. bying by unions and public health,” said Rhe“Workers should not public health groups, annon Ramos, a Stater have to make a choice as well as the Work and Brothers employee, on between losing their job Family Coalition, who are Thursday’s call. “As long or taking care of their urging the Legislature to as California is following the CDC guidelines health or the health of a act swiftly, well before on quarantine, workers loved one. And small busi- final approval of the should be paid for the nesses, who are the heart budget in June. days we’re forced to stay of many communities, The United Food and out of our work in order need support as we move Commercial Workers to keep our co-workers forward with pandemic Western States Council, and our customers and and economic recovery which represents our employees and our efforts,” she said in 180,000 employees in Cal- public safe.” a statement Tuesday. ifornia, is demanding an “These efforts are not immediate reinstatement CalMatters health covmutually exclusive, they of the two weeks of Covid erage is supported by are complementary. We leave as a “public health grants from the Blue can do both.” imperative.” Shield of California FounAt a virtual press “Workers currently dation, the California conference Thursday have no safety net if Health Care Foundation organized by the labor they are exposed or sick and the California Wellfederation, Carrillo and with Covid-19 just as the ness Foundation. Sameea Sen. Dave Cortese, a virus is breaking new Kamal covers the state Democrat from San Jose, records,” its president, Capitol and California addressed the urgency of Andrea Zinder, said in politics and is also a prothe request. a statement. duction assistant for “We have a worker SEIU California, which CalMatters.
Teacher: Romo earns honor in district From Page One structure conversations and planning around this important area.” Romo teaches functional life skills to students with moderate to severe disabilities, which often requires student support in the areas of emotional and behavioral needs. The needs of the student drive and frame the instruction in his class. “Teachers have an important role in helping students navigate SEL,” Romo said in the statement. “A system can be created to have layers of individuals to help assist students.” Romo said he believes a holistic system created and built by the school and the surrounding community is the best way to assist students. Romo’s students have worked hand in hand with the community on multiple projects, including a volunteer partnership with the city of Fairfield and the Adopt-a-Park program to do a park clean up at Veterans Memorial Park a few times each school year. The students are honored with a sign at the park
noting their commitment to the project and by the city of Fairfield at a City Council meeting. “I’m extremely proud of the work our students do in the community and the connection we have beyond the boundaries of our school,” Romo said in the statement. “More and more we see the link between the community and our schools. The importance of the community supporting the school, while schools serve the community cannot be emphasized enough. The community supporting our schools and the schools serving the community are one in the same.” The School Board honored 31 site teacher nominees with certificates who competed for the Teacher of the Year award. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Ken Whittemore applauded the nominees. “These teachers’ qualities are indicative of the over 1,100 certificated members who serve our children each day,” Whittemore said in the prepared statement. “We are proud of all of our certificated staff.”
The school site teachers of the year are: n Jorge Albarran: Public Safety Academy n Janet Ayris: H. Glenn Richardson n Jennifer Baker: Cordelia Hills Elementary n Alexandra Becker: Dan O. Root Health and Wellness Academy n Sheena Beeson: Armijo High School n Sandra Burke: Nelda Mundy Elementary n Kevin Butt: Tolenas Academy of Music and Media n Brittney Callaway: Mary Bird n Sarah Daly: Suisun Valley School n Michelle Dillman: K.I. Jones Elementary n Sierra Donahue: Grange Middle School n Jackie Farmer: Laurel Creek Elementary n Jennifer Fee: B. Gale Wilson School n Erin Furnary: Dover Academy for International Studies n Janis Gillespie: Anna Kyle Elementary n Marni Henderson: Cleo Gordon Elementary n Christine Hunt: Fairview Elementary n Karron Koehler: Green Valley Middle School
n Amy Love-Fields: Crescent Elementary n Laura Masterpaul: Anna Kyle Elementary n Yolanda MitchellBlacknell: David A. Weir Preparatory Academy n Katherine Molina: Crystal Middle School n Tamara Moroe: Rodriguez High School n Karen Robinson: Suisun Elementary n Christopher Romo: Fairfield High School n Carouzel Sorono: Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning n Melissa Strain: Fairfield-Suisun Adult School n Kelly “Sunny” Sunseri: Sem Yeto High School n Andrea Taylor WIlliams: Virtual Academy • Mae Valles: Early College High School n Tiffany Vea: Tolenas Academy of Music and Media California began the Teacher of the Year Program in 1972 to honor and recognize the teaching profession. Romo, through his selection, is the Fairfield-Suisun district’s nominee to be named Solano County Teacher of the Year.
