By Amber Dance

Pandemic rent crisis continues to plague America

COVID-19 created a perfect storm of rising rents as people started moving when they emerged from lockdown. Those pandemic effects are still rippling across the nation, causing housing costs to rise even in cities that were once affordable, report Holly Fuong and Monica Potts at FiveThirtyEight.

Meanwhile, the threat of a looming recession and the end of pandemic programs that protected tenants are likely to make things worse for many renters.

Making rent has long been a problem for many Americans, but COVID exacerbated the situation. People delayed moves during lockdowns, so rents initially fell, but then they rose as people moved at a higher rate when that phase of the pandemic ended. Others moved to a new place when remote work became an option. And many people purchased vacation homes in desirable areas, making it harder for seasonal workers and low-income people in those regions to afford to rent.

The FiveThirtyEight analysis found rents rose the most — more than 15% — in southern and western cities such as Miami, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

It took longer for pandemic effects to reach cities that used to be affordable, such as Cleveland. Now, those regions are the only affordable places left, boosting their appeal and, in turn, keeping rent high, said Rob Warnock, a senior research associate at Apartment List.

Those high rents — in some places as much as 30% higher than before the pandemic — push the lowest-income renters into worse living conditions, said Warnock.

Julie Wisneski, director of housing stability at the United Way of Greater Cleveland, says many low-income families can only afford rentals that have dangerous conditions such as lead paint and broken stairs.

Some cities, including Cleveland, are trying to help by passing ordinances to keep rents stable or delay evictions.

“But those are piecemeal solutions to a fundamental problem,” write Potts and Fuong. “There is not enough housing for people to live in, and it’s gotten more unaffordable for a wider swath of Americans.”

Biden administration plans end to national emergency

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the national COVID-19 public health emergency last week, for the 12th time, but it may be the last.

“There’s still a lot of COVID out there, and the public health emergency and his determination gives us tools to fight this,” White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told CNN. The rise of the contagious XBB.1.5 variant is just one reason to extend it, Jha said.

The renewal means COVID vaccines and treatments like Paxlovid remain free, for now.

Though there are no definite plans, “senior Biden officials are targeting an end to the emergency designation as soon as this spring,” reports Adam Cancryn at Politico.

“The internal planning for the end stage of the crisis also amounts to an acknowledgement that the White House is more limited than ever in its ability to keep up the fight,” Cancryn adds. 

Federal funds to battle the pandemic are running dry and Republicans in Congress are loath to provide more. 

State governments and many citizens are also ready to move on.

But the end of the emergency could endanger vulnerable populations, including minority communities, the elderly, health care workers, immunocompromised individuals and people with long COVID, writes Ian Lopez at Bloomberg Law. 

It could also make protective measures unaffordable for uninsured people. For example, Moderna announced that its COVID vaccine could cost as much as $130 once its government contracts end.

“I don’t think that we’re ready,” said Brietta Clark, a specialist in inequity and health care law at Loyola Marymount University.

GOP-led House takes aim at COVID origins, U.S. response

The newly Republican-led House of Representatives is changing up its focus on COVID.

Under Democratic leadership, a coronavirus committee focused on misinformation, a lack of pandemic preparedness and early missteps in the U.S. response, writes Sarah Owermohle at STAT. It also investigated COVID aid fraud.

The new Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic “will evolve into a Biden administration nightmare,” she writes.

This group is more interested in investigating whether the virus emerged from unsafe research practices in China, criticizing the U.S.’s funding of so-called “gain-of-function” research, and probing the spending of nearly $5 trillion in emergency federal aid, writes Tony Romm at The Washington Post.

“I believe every American, regardless of their political ideology, would like to know the truth,” said Rep. James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky.

Congress’ energies would be better focused on future potential outbreaks, argues science journalist and Council on Foreign Relations press fellow Amy Maxmen in a Post opinion. Passing the Prevent Pandemics Act would ensure the CDC keeps its outbreak plans up-to-date and would give the Department of Health and Human Services the means to roll out testing much more quickly than happened with COVID-19.

“It is essential that Congress act this year,” writes Maxmen. “If the next epidemic causes as much unnecessary devastation as this one, today’s uninterested leaders will be among those to blame.”

Public health experts see value, challenges in wastewater

As testing sites shutter and more and more people test at home, the answer to more accurate COVID monitoring could be in the sewer. 

Wastewater testing “lights a candle in the darkness,” Bernd Gawlik, a water quality expert with the European Commission, told Jennifer Rigby at Reuters.

The approach holds so much promise that international representatives met in London last week to discuss a global wastewater monitoring system. 

Testing of wastewater in airplanes on flights originating in China is expected to open a window onto the outbreak in that nation, reports Agence France-Presse. 

Ultimately, public health experts would like to be able to check a wastewater report much like they check the weather before getting dressed for the day. But there are several difficulties in making that happen, reports Brittany Trang at STAT. 

Unlike individual testing, wastewater results can’t indicate the precise number of people infected. Instead, the CDC’s system, covering about 1,250 U.S. sites, broadly tracks if COVID levels are going up or down in a community. 

And sewer systems don’t follow standard geographical regions like ZIP codes or county lines, compounding the challenge of interpreting and applying the data.

But if implemented widely, wastewater testing could sniff out not just the coronavirus and its variants, but also other infectious agents, or even other public health problems such as opioid abuse.

“It allows us to do public health with our blinders off and really is the future of public health surveillance,” said Megan Diamond, director of global health partnerships at the Rockefeller Foundation.

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www.gov.ca.gov | Contributed

As part of the state’s ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to bolster the state’s vaccination efforts. The proclamation supports the work underway by the California Department of Public Health and others in the administration to coordinate a whole-of-government response to monkeypox, seek additional vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts on accessing vaccines and treatment.

“California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach,” said Governor Newsom. “We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization.”

To expand vaccination efforts, the proclamation enables Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines that are approved by the FDA, similar to the statutory authorization recently enacted for pharmacists to administer vaccines. The state’s response to monkeypox builds on the infrastructure developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to deploy vaccine clinics and ensure inclusive and targeted outreach in partnership with local and community-based organizations.

As part of the state’s ongoing response to the monkeypox outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to bolster the state’s vaccination efforts. The proclamation supports the work underway by the California Department of Public Health and others in the administration to coordinate a whole-of-government response to monkeypox, seek additional vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts on accessing vaccines and treatment.

“California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach,” said Governor Newsom. “We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization.”

To expand vaccination efforts, the proclamation enables Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines that are approved by the FDA, similar to the statutory authorization recently enacted for pharmacists to administer vaccines. The state’s response to monkeypox builds on the infrastructure developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to deploy vaccine clinics and ensure inclusive and targeted outreach in partnership with local and community-based organizations.

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I checked at the front desk, hopeful. Soon, though, a bad premonition took hold of my girlfriend, Jennifer. She begged me to leave.

I refused.

My mask held me so tight against my chair that my lungs collapsed. According to the triage nurse: Code orange.

“Please, come with me,” said Jennifer. It broke my heart to say no.

I surrendered myself to the hospital.

The security guy took my girlfriend away from me. I had COVID. No company allowed.

My eyes closed and I woke up in bed, a nasal cannula, delivering oxygen. The nurse left and came back shortly with a device that looked like those obnoxious iPhones, the side of a brick.

She dropped it on the bed next to my right shoulder. Stapled five stickers on my chest and abdomen. A wire was taped to my left index finger. Five more wires were attached from the stickers to the bulky device.

The nurse turned it on. I was excited to see the blue screen come to life. I could check my pulse, oxygen levels, and heart activity.

I settled in my bed. I fell asleep, again. A doctor woke me up. I told her my main concern was the fever.

She left and came back. Then gave me water with three Tylenol pills and then proceeded to explain my treatment plan: Remdesivir!

No way!

According to the FDA approval of Remdesivir, of the 541 patients who took this medicine during the trials, 59 died.

I had the right to refuse treatment.

Another doctor visited me. He pushed Remdesivir, too. In vain.

I spent two days in the emergency room before I was moved upstairs. The new room had a bathroom. Two TVs hung on the wall. One bed.

I had no idea when I would get out of there. A doctor said I couldn’t go home because I was receiving 5 liters of oxygen per minute. I needed to show I could breathe on two liters without having my oxygen levels drop below 90.

The following morning, I had no fever and was able to sit on the bed for a few seconds.

One of the previous doctors came and talked Remdesivir. Again.

I wish these doctors had the same drive to push alternative treatments for Coronavirus.

I wanted to go home.

“You’re not improving”. “No fever for two days. How is that not improving?” I sent a text message to my girlfriend Jennifer.

Later that afternoon, the Discharge Office called me to ask a few questions.

No. I don’t have a walker at home or a cane. No big stairs to climb. The bathroom was on the same floor as my bedroom.

This call happened on November 15, 2021. Imagine my happiness.

The next morning, the Physician Assistant from hell came to visit. She asked how I was feeling. “Great!”

“No. You are not. You are on 10 liters of oxygen.”

“How come? I was on 5 liters last night. Who changed my liters?”

“I did.”

“It was up to the respiratory guy to decide to change my liters.”

She ignored me and asked me to lie on my stomach—and with that, suddenly, my health took a U-turn. I thought I was choking on my lungs.

Shortly after, a respiratory therapist came and set a high-flow oxygen machine for me. My liters were set to 90.

Finally, I fulfilled the expectations of whoever oversaw my treatment. I felt that my lungs were being rinsed with a power washer.

The respiratory therapist came back a couple of hours later. He set the oxygen machine to 45 liters. By the end of the night, I was on 35.

I guess God was taking care of me. The next morning, I’m sitting on my bed. I was feeling better. I even got off my bed with the help of a food table. I did five sit-ups. I wanted to keep going but I shouldn’t push my luck.

Two people walked into the room pushing big machines. I had x-rays of my lungs and an EKG.

I was looking forward to seeing a doctor this morning. The PA from hell showed up instead.

“How are you doing today?”

I talked about my new accomplishments.

“You need to try a new medication.”

Then she handed some sheets about Baricitinib, a medicine with severe side effects, including death. She also mentioned that she was not sure the new med was going to work. I had refused Remdesivir. Now my best prognosis was the ICU.

A true demon.

I asked her for the results of x-rays and EKG. She didn’t know I had those tests done.

“You need to take Baricitinib.”

“No. I don’t.”

The PA left the room, angry.

A few minutes later, I received this text message from my girlfriend: “Alex, you’re probably going to end up in the ICU. You’re requiring more and more oxygen. Maybe you should take the medicine they’re offering. Please I beg you to try. Please take the medicines.”

I answered: “Call them and tell them that I’m going to take it.”

A nurse came and gave me the fricking lethal pill.

About two hours later, I sent a message to my girlfriend. I was transferring the title of my house to my mom. It’s excruciating to say goodbye to the people you love. I couldn’t bear the pain of leaving them.

I decided to fight back. I took just a dose of Baricitinib. The odds were on my side. It was a momentary weakness.

Change the way you think, and you will change the way you feel. That night my heart rate was 170. The following morning, I wrote a friend: “Good morning. I had a wonderful night.

Beginning at 6 p.m., I started listening to light classical music. It has been relaxing, amazing to let myself go with the melodies, like swimming on my back and letting the waves take me to a sublime place on the horizon. My heart rate was now 89.

When the evil PA came to check on me, the usual happened. According to her, my condition was still deteriorating. That’s it!

I asked my girlfriend to call the Patient Advocate. I wanted the evil PA removed from my care. I bet I had developed high blood pressure and anxiety because of her.

On November 23, the doctor came and I asked him what caused my sudden recovery. He said “steroids.” I objected. The steroids helped with the inflammation but weakened the immune system.

My next question was more specific. What stopped the virus from replicating?

He said my immune system. I couldn’t contain my laugh. I asked the doctor not to insult my intelligence.

I let the doctor know that while the hospital was pushing hard for me to take Remdesivir, I was holding tight to a tissue box stuffed in with Ivermectin, an antiviral with anti-inflammatory properties.

Alexander Hernandez | Contributed

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RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The Board of Supervisors is slated next week to direct the Emergency Management Department to accept a $1.8 million federal grant to cover a range of costs directly tied to Riverside County‘s coronavirus mitigation efforts.

The allotment, which will be disbursed by the California Department of Public Health, is among the grant awards made available under the Coronavirus Preparedness & Response Supplemental Appropriations Act signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 6.

“This one-time funding is intended to reimburse the county for COVID- 19 crisis response for the period March 5, 2020, through March 15, 2021,” according to an Executive Office statement posted to the Board of Supervisors’ agenda. “The funding is critical support from the federal government to assist in the response to the ongoing pandemic.”

Almost 500 county residents have been infected, resulting in 14 deaths as of Thursday, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The grant will cover costs stemming from resource obligations, supply acquisitions, including surgical gloves and masks, equipment acquisitions, including ventilators, and the procurement of food and basic office implements, according to the EMD.

The funds will be paid based on submissions from the county to the state showing specific measures that have been put into effect. A spending plan must be forwarded to the state by April 9 detailing the county’s current and future expenditures for “early crisis response,” “surge management,” “biosurveillance” and other actions, according to documents.

Officials said that the process is already underway.

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Riverside County

The County of Riverside has identified hotels and motels with available units for unsheltered homeless individuals to provide emergency temporary housing during the state order to “stay at home.”

The temporary housing is part of a county program that includes case management, medical and wrap-around services. The housing is effective until the “stay at home” order is in effect.

“These much-needed beds will get our most vulnerable homeless residents into safe housing, because they need the most protection,” said Chairman V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor. “This will continue to slow and halt the spread of this deadly virus.”

Eligible unsheltered homeless individuals include those who are 65 and older, pregnant, have a serious chronic health condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, or have a compromised immune system. Homeless individuals who are ill or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will be housed through a different system.

Eligible clients can be referred to temporary hotel and motel housing by calling the HomeConnect hotline at 1-800-498-8847.

The hotels and motels are located throughout Riverside County. The program is offered through the Housing Authority of Riverside County.

County officials will work with local homeless providers and the hotel and motel sites to identify homeless individuals who meet the eligibility requirements and to coordinate temporary housing. Efforts to identify permanent housing for these individuals are ongoing and will continue alongside the temporary hotel and motel housing.

This is the latest in a series of precautionary and preventive measures taken by the County of Riverside to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the County’s most vulnerable populations.

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Hemet City Council held an emergency meeting Monday, March 16, where council members unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming the existence of an emergency situation and local emergency due to the worldwide spread of COVID-19.

This comes during a time of increasing public concern over the spread of COVID-19 and the ways in which social and community activities are being impacted.

Council Chamber was empty of a physical, public audience as the city has encouraged social distancing as per CDC’s recommendation in preventing spread of the novel virus. Also discussed was how council will continue adhering to provisions of the Brown Act–the state law that ensures council deliberations and actions are made openly with public access and input. The meeting was, in fact, accessible to the public via teleconferencing and will continue being so in this time of caution.

Council members shared sentiments of hope that community members will take individual responsibility and report any illness to their physician; be good neighbors; and be especially mindful when shopping-buying only what is needed.

“I hope that our meeting today does not cause more panic…because the community reaction, and across America, is out of control,” says council member, Karlee Meyer.

There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hemet, but City Council is taking proactive measures to prevent or deal with potential exposures. Monday’s emergency meeting and resolution positions the city to go after federal funding that would be needed for emergency operations.

Based on the circumstances and the number of closures that are happening throughout the state, City Manager Chris Lopez says, “It’s imperative that the city council weigh in on this resolution and provide the opportunity for emergency services to implement whatever is needed to address some of the concerns that exist here in our community.”

Over the past week the community has, in many ways, been emptied of a familiar way of life: events and school classes and activities have been canceled, grocery store shelves depleted of goods. Social distancing in a community that thrives on performing arts and events,  it all seems to have left an eerie void of unease and uncertainty. But it is evident that the Mayor and City Council are taking the necessary steps to curtail the spread of this virus and get Hemet’s way of life back on track.

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In response to the national health emergency, the Historic Hemet Theatre has canceled 2 concerts and closed the Ticket Office until Monday April 6th.

The Tribute to Tom Petty scheduled for Saturday March 21st was nearly sold out when it became obvious that the event would have to be canceled. Also canceled was the April 4th Tribute to Metallica, featuring Eliminator. In addition, the Hemet Woman’s Club has canceled the Wizard of Oz Sing-Along on Friday March 27th.

The Tribute to Abba scheduled for April 18th has not been canceled at this point.

When the Ticket Office reopens, HHT will offer a ticket exchange for any shows canceled during the emergency closing. Patrons must return their tickets to the Ticket Office in order to process the exchange.

As the virus emergency progresses, the community can keep track of the situation on the HHT website, www.HistoricHemetTheatre.com or the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/HistoricHemetTheatre. Email subscribers will receive updates at the situation changes (enroll on the website). Call and leave a message for additional information, (951) 658-5950.

Meanwhile, the Foundation will be working hard to manage the financial strain of paying its bills without any show revenue. Supporters are asked to help in any way that they can. Donations can be made on the HHT website.

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