Protecting Kids In A Pandemic

Good Morning, I’m Annica Colbert….it’s Friday, August 6th. >>>> How do health experts protect their own kids during a pandemic? We’ll have that next just after the headlines…. ######### In San Diego more than 90 percent of COVID-19 cases are among the unvaccinated, but the numbers of those fully vaccinated and catching the virus are rising. Dr. Francesca Torriani is an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health.. “We do see more breakthroughs than we ever saw before and this may simply be because the delta variant is associated with so much more virus.. Even though there are more breakthrough infections they’re definitely very mild and short lived in vaccinated persons” (:24) Torriani says the delta variant is changing the fight against the pandemic.. Especially with new evidence that fully vaccinated people can still spread the virus once infected. …... Meanwhile, people who work in healthcare in California will now be required to be fully vaccinated against covid-19. The California department of public health ordered all workers in healthcare settings to get their second dose of the vaccine by september 30. The director of the state department of public health says vaccines are how “we end the pandemic.” The state is also requiring visitors at acute care facilities to be fully vaccinated or test negative for covid. ########### The new Rady Shell at Jacobs Park will host its first-ever concert tonight. The shell is now the new home for the San Diego Symphony. Martha Gilmer is the San Diego Symphony CEO. "We can’t wait to share our music at the Rady Shell with the San Diego community and beyond.” ######### From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now. Stay with me for more of the local news you need. As the more contagious Delta variant continues to cause an increase in COVID-19 infections, even in kids, many parents are anxious about how to best protect their children. Especially since there’s no vaccine available for those under 12. The rules about what is and isn’t safe vary from one activity to another. So, we decided to ask experts in infectious disease and public health, how they are keeping their own children safe. Here’s what they had to say. That was Rebecca Fielding Miller, an assistant professor at UC San Diego school of public health. Dr. Christian Ramers, an infectious disease specialist and chief of population health at Family Health Centers in San Diego. And Corianne McDaniels-Davidson, director of SDSU Institute for Public Health. This segment was producer by KPBS’ Emilyn Mohebbi ########## California Governor Gavin Newsom has been fighting to officially label the september 14th recall election as being the work of “national republicans and trump supporters” in the election voter guide. And he got a tentative victory this week in a superior court ruling. Sacramento Superior Court judge Laurie M. Earl issued a tentative ruling earlier this week rejecting objections by recall organizers. They had argued that newsom’s claim is factually untrue because almost half of the candidates running in hopes of replacing him are not republicans. Earl says newsom is alleging the recall’s organizers and backers are republicans and trump supporters, which the judge says is true. Dr. David Schechter , is a california recall expert who’s now provost at the university of south carolina upstate. He says newsom’s team understands that voter guide language can be key in flipping undecided or unprepared voters on election day. “they obviously feel that this language will help them out in the long run and that tying trump to the recall efforts is only good news for them in hopes of swaying things a couple of points here and a couple of points there. that will make all the difference in question one on the ballot this year.” The judge’s ruling is tentative. Hours after issuing the ruling, She heard oral arguments from both sides and could either stand by or change her decision after considering those arguments. …….. Meanwhile, four candidates hoping to replace governor gavin newsom in the recall election squared off in a debate in southern california. capradio’s nicole nixon reports. nn:the recall hopefuls — all republicans — spent much of the 90 minutes attacking newsom. former san diego mayor kevin faulconer touted his record working with the city’s democratic-majority council and says as governor, his priority would be to make california more affordable. kf: i put forward the largest tax cut in california history for our middle class because we need it. because our state’s too expensive and californians are leaving and voting with their feet. <<:10>> nn: businessman john cox — who lost to newsom in 2018 — tried to one-up faulconer with his own preview of a tax plan: jc: i’m going to be announcing a 25% across-the-board tax rate cut for every californian — the largest tax cut in the history of this state. <<:08>> nn:former congressman doug ose slammed newsom’s approach to addressing the skyrocketing homelessness rate. do: what we’re doing isn’t working. we need to change. we need to get treatment for the drug addicted. we need to get treatment for the mentally ill. we need to stop calling failure success. <<:11>> nn:if newsom is ousted, his replacement would face resistance from the legislature, which is held by democrats. assemblyman kevin kiley -- speaking quickly -- says he has a strategy. kk: i know that the one thing legislators respond to is political pressure: the fear of losing their jobs. and having just seen the governor lose his job, there will be a unique opportunity to bring fundamental reforms on issues like the cost of living, rising crime rates and school choice. <<:12>> nn: every active voter will be mailed a ballot for the recall beginning in mid-august. soc That was Cap Radio’s Nicole Nixon. Two candidates — radio host Larry Elder and reality tv star Caitlyn Jenner — skipped the debate due to prior commitments. Newsom was also invited but wasn’t there. ########## Coming up.... Some animals have tested positive or COVID-19 and now San Diego zoo officials are working to get about 250 animals vaccinated against the virus. We’ll have that story next, just after the break. The San Diego zoo and Safari Park are moving quickly to vaccinate about 250 potentially vulnerable animals against Covid. The vaccination program is stepping up after more animals have tested positive...including 5 of the zoo’s 6 Sumatran tigers and two snow leopards. It’s not entirely clear how the animals caught the virus, but new masking requirements are now in place for all staff members. Zoo officials hope to complete the first round of vaccinations this week. Jonathan Wosen is the biotech reporter for the San Diego Union tribune, who’s been covering this story. He spoke with KPBS Midday Edition Host Maureen Kavanaugh. Here’s that interview…. That was Jonathan Wosen, biotech reporter for the San Diego Union Tribune, speaking with KPBS midday Edition host Maureen Kavanaugh. That’s it for the podcast today. Tomorrow we’ll have a special bonus episode of the podcast featuring KPBS’ Summer Music series. In the meantime, Be sure to catch KPBS Midday Edition At Noon on KPBS radio, or check out the Midday podcast. You can also watch KPBS Evening Edition at 5 O’clock on KPBS Television, and as always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Annica Colbert. Thanks for listening and have a great day.