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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
With declining case rates and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 across the West, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update their masking guidance.
California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly discussed the changes on Monday, explaining that dropping case numbers and hospitalizations had led to the state making the changes.
He said that while public indoor masking is no longer required regardless of vaccination, it is still strongly recommended.
Ghaly said that after March 11, schools and child care centers also will be able to move from required masking, but with a strong recommendation for the practice to remain in effect.
Masking will continue to be required in health care facilities and high risk congregate settings such as long term care facilities, and jails and prisons, Ghaly said.
He said local government jurisdictions and schools may keep additional requirements in place beyond what the state announced.
The changes Ghaly discussed on Monday come 10 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the SMARTER plan, the seven pillars of which are shots, masks, awareness, readiness, testing, education and RX, or treatments.
As California enters this next phase of the pandemic, Ghaly said the future may bring new surges and variants.
He said state officials will continue to be ready and build on what they’ve learned so they can keep Californians safe.
The data trends the state used to make the change in regulations included a 66% reduction over the past two weeks in the case rate, which is expected to continue to drop, Ghaly said.
Ghaly said hospitalizations are down by 48% for adults and 47% for children, with test positivity down 53%.
He said different regions of the state don’t experience the pandemic the same way, so some areas of California may have hospitals that are impacted while other locations are doing better.
When new variants arise, Ghaly said they will try to understand them by looking at data trends and test positivity. “It will be a fluid, California-specific approach moving forward.”
He urged people to be kind, accepting, respectful and safe as the changes go into effect.
Later on Monday, Gov. Newsom signed an executive order that updates the Division of Occupational Safety and Health COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard in keeping with the current guidance.
In California, starting March 1, masks will no longer be required for unvaccinated workers indoors, consistent with the updated CDPH guidance, but will be strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. Employers must still provide a face covering upon request of an employee, the state reported.
The order also extends the current Emergency Temporary Standard through May 5 to ensure the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has time to review the new guidance in anticipation of the next readoption of the Emergency Temporary Standard.
Plans at the county level
Regarding what the county of Lake plans to do with regard to the regulations, Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein told Lake County News that face coverings will remain required indoors in county facilities, pending future action by the Board of Supervisors.
“Otherwise, Lake County is in alignment with statewide requirements,” Rothstein said.
A COVID-19 update is expected as part of Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, but no item regarding changes to face covering requirements is currently scheduled, he said.
At the board’s Feb. 15 meeting, supervisors Jessica Pyska and Tina Scott said they wanted to have the newly named Public Health officer, Dr. Erik McLaughlin, collaborate with the Public Health team to make recommendations to the board.
Rothstein said the board’s consensus at the Feb. 15 meeting was to bring back a discussion on county rules to the board within the first two weeks of March.
He said that discussion will probably take place at the board’s meeting on Tuesday, March 8.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, for a midyear budget workshop before the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, March 3.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
On the agenda is a discussion about financing options to facilitate additional road maintenance projects.
“Over the last several years the City has discussed the option of financing a number of road projects in order to expedite the Measure V capital improvement plan. Staff have been working with NHA Advisors on various options for financing and an analysis of what the City could afford to borrow in order to complete a larger group of projects in a shorter period of time,” City Manager Alan Flora wrote in his report to the council.
“While we were planning to present some information to the Council for consideration in the next couple of months, staff believe that the window is increasingly short for attractive interest rates and this should be considered in the next several weeks,” Flora wrote. “The unrest in Ukraine is leading to additional uncertainty and market volatility that could impact costs.”
Flora said additional detail and a presentation of possible options will be reviewed at the meeting.
If the council is interested in taking action, Flora said they would ask for direction to bring back the final plan for approval as soon as the March 17 council meeting.
In other business on Thursday, the council will consider the first reading of the amendment to Clearlake Municipal Code Chapter 18-20.130.c Water Efficient Landscaping, consider the first reading of amendment to Clearlake Municipal Code Chapter 9-1 Building and Housing, waive further reading and set second reading and adoption for March 17, discuss a cost sharing agreement with the county of Lake and city of Lakeport for expenses related to facilitation of community visioning forums, and present a proclamation declaring March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; adoption of Resolution 2022-11 amending the fiscal year 2021-22 budget with midyear adjustments; and minutes of the Jan. 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting.
After the public portion of the meeting, the council will hold a closed session for a performance evaluation of the city manager and a discussion regarding the city’s lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
While the federal government has taken swift and aggressive action advancing unprecedented sanctions against Russia and its leaders, California is the world’s fifth largest economy and enhanced action taken by the state could help the people of Ukraine by putting additional financial pressure on the already beaten-up Russian economy.
“The world is watching the atrocities taking place in Ukraine. It’s sickening,” McGuire said. “We must stand strong for the people of Ukraine. That’s why we all must mobilize to stop Russia in its tracks. California has unique and remarkable economic power in this circumstance. As the fifth largest economy in the world, we must use this power for good. We can help stop this autocratic thug, Putin, by advancing this critical legislation and enacting our own financial divestments.”
Senate Majority Leader McGuire and the legislative coalition will be advancing a bill that will call on all state agencies, including the Golden State’s massive pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, to divest from any and all Russian assets immediately.
It’s believed California has Russian investments exceeding over $1 billion, primarily in its pension funds. At this point there can be no excuse to invest in and support Putin, his oligarchs and the Russian economy.
Russia’s economy, not even in the top 10 of world economies, is one of their big pressure points and California should use its power to exert influence where it can.
The delegation will also ask private companies based in California to divest their investments in the Russian economy. In addition, the legislation would block the awarding of state contracts to any company that is conducting business with Russia.
This bill is supported by a broad and growing bipartisan coalition of senators and Assembly members, including senators Susan Eggman, Scott Wiener, Dave Cortese, Bill Dodd, Tom Umberg and Susan Rubio, and Assembly members Kevin Mullin, Suzette Martinez Valladares, Jesse Gabriel, Evan Low, Phil Ting, Jim Wood, Marc Berman, Chad Mayes, Jordan Cunningham, Cristina Garcia, Laurie Davies, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Randy Voepel and Miguel Santiago.
“Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine is a threat to democratic freedoms and global stability. The loss of life to satisfy the ego of a fragile tyrant is unconscionable and there must be consequences. This legislation builds upon the strong economic sanctions being pursued by the Biden Administration and our allies,” Assistant Senate Majority Leader Susan Eggman said.
“As the fifth largest economy in the world, California cannot stand on the sidelines while this rise of authoritarianism threatens democracy and freedom around the globe. The aggression of Vladimir Putin against Ukraine demands severe sanctions and I am in full support of California taking aggressive steps to divest from Russian assets and financial institutions. I am proud to co-author this legislation and the significant message it conveys,” Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin said.
Chair of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Sen. Dave Cortese said, “As a state, it is our responsibility to ensure we are not fueling this global crisis that has caused tremendous human suffering. I hope that other governments follow California’s lead in standing for peace and taking swift action against this unjustified attack on Ukraine.”
“Putin is a brutal fascist dictator,” said Sen. Scott Wiener. “His attempted conquest of Ukraine is an extreme violation of international law and is creating a humanitarian disaster. We must not allow this destructive invasion — which will have long-term consequences for peace and security in Europe — to stand. California should not in any way support Putin’s corrupt oligarchy. We must divest now.”
Sen. Bill Dodd said, “California stands with the Ukrainian people. It gives me no joy to sanction Russia, but the terrible invasion and murder of Ukrainian civilians by Vladimir Putin demand it. I call on other states and businesses to follow suit — we must hold Russia accountable and help our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.”
“Like Californians across the state, I am disgusted by Putin’s thuggish and unlawful invasion of Ukraine,” said Assemblymember Suzette Martinez Valladares. “I’m proud to co-author this bill, which will leverage California’s economic strength to put significant pressure on Russia and support our friends in Ukraine. California’s state agencies and public pensions cannot help fund a dictator's attempts to take over sovereign nations.”
“An unprovoked and illegal invasion of a sovereign nation is grounds for divestment. California must stand with the people of Ukraine,” said Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham said.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said, “As the world’s fifth largest economy and home to many of the world’s most iconic companies, California is perfectly positioned to inflict tremendous economic pain on the Putin regime. Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine demands a swift and severe response. This legislation makes clear that California will use its full economic and political power to reinforce U.S. and international sanctions, and that the Golden State will stand proudly with our international partners and the Ukrainian people at this difficult moment.”
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“These measures will help increase stability and care for Native American who have among the lowest rates of placements and permanency for children and youth in our foster care systems,” said Ramos, the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature.
He noted that a 2021 report by the Capacity Building Center for Courts reported that in child dependency cases where a tribe was present at the initial hearing, families were reunified at a rate of 52% rather than only 40% in cases where the tribe was not present.
According to data from UC Berkeley, despite having federal protections in place since 1978, Native children continue to be overrepresented in California’s child welfare system at a rate four times that of white children.
Ramos added, “Last year, I successfully introduced AB 873 and AB 1055 which brought support to tribal communities and tribal students in the foster care system. We must ensure that governmental systems are following through with the protections already in place so that tribal communities have the necessary resources to keep families together or place children in positive, culturally supportive homes where they thrive.”
AB 1862 would fund eligible tribes and tribal organizations that recruit and approve homes for foster or adoptive placement of Indian children.
On average, according to California Department of Social Services data, only 44% of Indian children in California’s foster care system are placed according to federal requirements, so improvement is greatly needed.
“The Indian Child Welfare Act is central to our tribal sovereignty and our ability to protect our most vulnerable tribal citizens,” said Pala Band of Mission Indians Chairman Robert H. Smith. “As chairman of the Board of the California Tribal Families Coalition, I support both these bills and thank Assemblymember Ramos for his tireless work on behalf of California tribal families.”
AB 1950 aims to improve county compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA, and its California counterpart.
The bill would provide counties with increased funding for remaining in compliance with state and federal laws.
The concept has proven to work in the state of Minnesota which implemented a similar program four years ago and, according to officials with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, improved legal compliance by 35%.
“The Indian Child Welfare Act has been federal law for almost 50 years, and yet California still misses the mark on compliance. I support this effort to reward those counties that get it right; they will serve as models for how we achieve compliance across the state,” said Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal Councilwoman Catalina Chacon.
Tribal Chairman Tilford P. Denver of the Bishop Paiute Tribe also praised the introduction of the bill. “The Bishop Tribe applauds this bill to increase compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act. Assemblymember Ramos is again demonstrating leadership that will improve the lives of Native children and improve our child welfare system.”
Both AB 1862 and AB 1950 are sponsored by the California Tribal Families Coalition.