Join presenter Kristen Sze for ABC7’s daily interactive newsletter on the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Bay Area and other hot topics. You can check here to air the show Monday through Friday at 3 p.m.

Here are the latest developments in respiratory disease in the United States:

May 20, 2021

12:30 p.m.
No COVID-19 patients at SF General
Dr Vivek Jain called Thursday a “truly memorable day at San Francisco General Hospital.” For the first time since March 5, 2020, the hospital has no COVID-19 patients, it tweeted. He acknowledged that the feat is unlikely to last long – the hospital will likely treat people with COVID-19 in the weeks and months to come. Still, the occasion marks a major milestone for the city, which has seen coronavirus cases plummet for weeks as vaccinations continue to climb.

10 a.m.
San Francisco eases dozens of restrictions on COVID-19
San Francisco, arguably the most cautious county in the state when it comes to reopening amid COVID-19, is loosening the reins and gearing up for a return to normal this summer. The city and county have announced dozens of minor and significant changes to its health care order, allowing more flexibility for businesses and residents. We’re breaking down the new rules, sector by sector, here.

9 hours
SF Health Department publishes rules for proms
The San Francisco Department of Health has released guidelines for this year’s high school balls – which will be anything but traditional. Prom-goers who are not vaccinated should stay six feet from others. Anyone attending an indoor event will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. They will also have to wear a face mask with their dress or tuxedo. And no close dancing will be allowed. Participants are prohibited from dancing cheek to cheek or tightening their date during a slow song.

May 19, 2021

7:25
Hospitals May Overestimate Childhood Cases, Study Finds
Hospitals may overestimate the number of children hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States, according to a new study from Stanford. The researchers analyzed data from the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. They found 117 child patients who tested positive or hospitalized for multisystem inflammatory syndrome, but 40% of these cases were asymptomatic. And 45% of those admissions were unlikely to be caused by the virus.

May 18, 2021

12h00
1 other county in the bay area joins the yellow tier
Santa Clara County officially joined San Francisco and San Mateo counties in the yellow reopening tier. Find out what’s allowed to reopen here.

9:30 a.m.
SF Giants Relaxes COVID-19 Rules For Fans In Socially Remote Sections
As of Friday, May 21, Giants fans seated in socially remote sections will not be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination to enter Oracle Park. Fans seated in fully vaccinated sections will still need to show proof that they are fully vaccinated.

7:15 a.m.
Vaccination clinics opened in schools in Contra Costa Co.
Vaccination clinics will begin to open in schools in Contra Costa County today. It’s an effort to increase vaccinations among students now that eligibility has broadened. The middle schools of Antioch and Concord will be organizing free clinics starting this morning. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Saturday. Next week, sites will open at Pinole Valley High, Pittsburg High, Ygnacio Valley High in Concord, and Edna Hill Middle in Brentwood. Anyone eligible for a vaccine can visit the sites.

May 17, 2021

12:15 p.m.
California to start following new CDC indoor mask guidelines from June 15
California health officials announced Monday that the state will begin following the Centers for Disease Control’s simplified mask guidelines for certain indoor environments starting June 15.

7:45 a.m.
CDC recommends masks stay in schools
The CDC says the masks should stay in school, at least for the rest of the school year. The agency explains that most young children are not vaccinated – and may not be eligible until fall. Although the CDC says infected children tend to have milder cases of COVID-19, they can still get sick and pass the virus on to others. The CDC will update its guidelines for the next school year “in the coming weeks” to give educators time to plan.

May 16, 2021

4:25 p.m.
California registers 1,370 new cases, 7-day positivity rate at 1%
California recorded 1,370 new cases of COVID-19 and 55 deaths on Saturday, with a 7-day positivity rate of 1%, according to state health officials on Sunday.
1,402 remain hospitalized, including 362 in intensive care.

May 15, 2021

11:45 a.m.
Nearly 2000 new cases in CA, the 7-day positivity rate is 1.1%

There are 1,864 new cases in the state, according to the California Department of Public Health. The 7-day positivity rate is 1.1%.

New cases: 1864
Total: 3,663,539
Deaths: 27
Total: 61,444

7-day positivity rate: 1.1%
1428 hospitalized
346 in intensive care

Vaccinations: 15,362,144 fully vaccinated (48.3%)
4,837,852 Partially vaccinated

246,391 average doses administered per day
32 days of inventory available

May 14, 2021

11:00
More than 15 million people fully vaccinated in California

A milestone for vaccination in California. As of Friday, 15,110,057 people are fully vaccinated in the state, according to the California Department of Public Health. The positivity rate for the condition remains at 1.1%.

Here are other vaccinated numbers:
-4,931,344 partially vaccinated
-27 days of inventory
-257,569 average doses administered per day

Here are the latest COVID-19 issues in California:
-New cases: 2034
-Total cases: 3,661,675
-3.5 cases per 100,000

Deaths: 66
Total number of deaths: 61,417
Hospitalized: 1453
Intensive care: 359

May 13, 2021

8:25
Unemployment claims in the United States fall to new pandemic low
The number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits fell last week to 473,000, a further weak pandemic and the latest evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs as consumers increase spending and more businesses are reopening.

May 12, 2021

9:45 p.m.
California Department of Public Health (CDHP) officially recommends COVID-19 vaccine for people 12 years of age and older
After FDA and CDC clearance and approval of the Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds, the California Department of Public Health officially recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for people 12 years of age and older.

7 p.m.
Santa Clara Co. opens vaccine appointments for 12-15 year olds
Santa Clara County officials announced Wednesday evening that the people appointed for vaccines for children 12 and older are available immediately. Appointments can be scheduled now on the county website, which also includes information on many walk-in vaccination sites throughout the county.

9:45 a.m.
Expert group suggests WHO should have more power to stop pandemics
An independent panel of experts that reviewed the World Health Organization’s response to the coronavirus pandemic said the United Nations health agency should be granted “guaranteed access rights” in countries to investigate emerging outbreaks, a controversial idea that would give it more power and require member states. abandon some of their own.

May 11, 2021

10:30
San Mateo Co. joins the yellow tier
San Mateo County has officially joined San Francisco in the least restrictive yellow tier. This means that almost any business could open indoors with physical distance and facial coverage requirements.

5 a.m.

LA County could achieve collective immunity in July
Once the epicenter of COVID cases, health officials say Los Angeles County could achieve collective immunity by the end of July. California’s 7-day positivity rate has dropped to an all-time high of 1%.

May 10, 2021

8 p.m.
San Mateo Co. to go yellow on Tuesday, official says
San Mateo County will drop to the least restrictive yellow level on Tuesday, according to San Mateo County Supervisory Board Chairman David Canepa. Some of the most significant changes that can occur in the yellow level include increasing the indoor capacity of wineries, breweries and distilleries to 50% or 200 people, whichever is less. Gyms can increase capacity by 25% to 50%. They can also reopen saunas, spas and steam rooms.
14 hours
California’s 7-day positivity rate at a record high of 1%
California’s 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate is 1%, according to new data released Monday by state health officials. This is the lowest figure since the start of the pandemic. As of Sunday, 1,377 new confirmed cases were recorded, for a total of 3,655,922 confirmed cases to date.
More than 14 million or 45.1% of residents are fully immunized in California, with an average of 267,310 doses administered per day.

8:35 a.m.
32 million Californians have received at least 1 blow
The Department of Public Health reported 1,800 new cases Sunday and 61 deaths in California. More than 32 million Californians have received at least one vaccine and 45% of the population over 16 is fully vaccinated.
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