September 17, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Is OC poised to depoliticize its public health officer?
Early in the pandemic, county supervisors placed Dr. Clayton Chau into the slot to replace former Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick — who resigned following threats for her countywide mask mandate — because of Chau’s willingness to avoid mask mandates.
Voice of OC: Orange County school districts grapple with COVID-19 testing for students
While state public health mandates call for students and staff to wear masks indoors, officials have largely left testing students for COVID-19 up to school districts — causing many Orange County parents to wonder if testing is required or not.
Voice of OC: Ocean View School District parents want bus service to all students resumed
Some parents showed up to the district board meeting Tuesday to share their concerns and call on elected trustees to resume school bus services, while district officials say there isn’t enough funding.
OC Register: Mission Viejo nurse, 71, worked through pandemic, died of COVID-19
Those who worked with Nurse Barbara Darke are devastated. “She was a preceptor and mentor to many of us nurses,” said friend Karen Hilburg. “A real inspiration. So many of us started as new nurses and were guided by Barbara. She lived to help others. It was her life’s calling. It’s a real loss for us.”
OC Register: Orange County 60% fully vaccinated with 326 new cases reported Sept. 16
The OC Health Care Agency reported 326 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, Sept. 16, increasing the cumulative total since tracking began in the county to 292,450.
OC Register: US panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for elderly, high-risk
While research suggests immunity levels in those who have been vaccinated wane over time and boosters can reverse that, the Pfizer vaccine is still highly protective against severe illness and death, even amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
County of Orange: HCA announces Office of Suicide Prevention
The Office of Suicide Prevention, which officially commenced operations on August 2, 2021, will coordinate suicide prevention efforts at the agency level and interface with local and statewide initiatives to identify and facilitate the implementation of evidence-based and promising suicide prevention activities in Orange County.
California
OC Register: Gov. Newsom signs SB 9, curbing single-family zoning in California
In one of his first actions after surviving an election seeking to oust him from office, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday essentially abolished single-family zoning in California — and green-lighted a series of bills intended to bolster the state’s housing production.
OC Register: Don’t bet against California: 13 reasons recall failed
The never-ending noise from California’s doom-and-gloom crowd is tiresome. If winning statewide elections is a goal, perhaps “California will collapse soon” or “It’s not like it used to be” aren’t great messages.
Publication Date: September 17, 2021
