California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. COVID-19 headlines continued more states and cities are easing pandemic restrictions. The Russian invasion Ukraine dominated all headlines thereafter. Feb was another slow pace month.
Tue Feb 1. I shopped at Smart & Final and Safeway the first thing in the morning.
Wed Feb 2. Shopped at Costco. The parking lot closest to the gas station was renovating. More beer and wine in stock. Less tables for bakery goods.
COVID-19 daily cases dropped in the Bay Area.
Fri Feb 4. 900,000 deaths recorded in the US.
Contra Costa County lifted mask mandates for fully vaccinated people in indoor businesses. The exceptions were hospitals, senior care facilities, and indoor events with 500 or more people. These events people were required to be fully vaccinated or a recent negative test.
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) published data analyzing the coronavirus appears in the country's wastewater. Some of the virus gets flushed down the toilet into the wastewater system. The wastewater can be tested like the same test to detect the virus from nasal swabs. It's an early warning a city is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Sat Feb 5. Sonoma County lifted indoor restrictions imposed on Jan 10. Local cases and hospitalizations were declining from the omicron peak. Restrictions were indoor gatherings 50 people or greater and outdoor gatherings 100 people or greater prohibited. The lift started on Fri Feb 11.
80,688 deaths in CA which was the highest in the US. CA was ranked 38th in deaths per capita. State hospitalizations 12,135 as of today compared to 22,000 at the peak in Jan. 2,300 ICU cases as of today compared to 4,600 at the peak in Jan. 37,000 cases in the last seven-day average. 120,000 cases in the peak seven-day average in Jan.
A friend who tested positive for COVID-19 said she experienced loss of taste, brain fog, headaches, and fatigue. These are symptoms of potential long haulers. She is the first person I know with long haul symptoms.
Mon Feb 7. New Jersey ended school mask mandates effective Mar 7. School districts can continue their own mask mandates. School districts are prohibited to ban people wearing masks. Connecticut ended school mask mandates on Feb 28.
Wed Feb 9. Santa Clara County Libraries provided free N95 masks and free COVID-19 tests for the next four days. The service was a drive thru. Each vehicle was handed four tests.
Truckers protested Canada's measure requiring all US truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated at the US and Canada border crossings. The protest has lasted for ten days. Trucks couldn't complete their deliveries.
CA Governor Gavin Newsom signed the COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave act into law. The law is retroactive to Jan 1 and expires Sep 30. The law included $6.1 billion in tax relief, tax credits, and grants for small businesses affected by the pandemic. Employees can access up to 80 hours of paid sick leave to quarantine, care for a COVID-19 family member, and get a COVID-19 vaccine shot. The law applies to small businesses employing 26 or greater workers.
Fri Feb 11. Shopped at Costco during the 3pm hour. The parking lot renovation near the gas station continued. Construction workers controlled traffic at the main intersection.
Sat Feb 12. U.C. Berkeley dropped mask mandates in most indoor classes which starts on Feb 28. Students and faculty must be fully vaccinated and boosted to stop wearing masks.
Sun Feb 13. Shopped at Costco during the 9am hour. It was a busy morning for Super Bowl Sunday. I saw a customer purchase a new TV. Roses and wine were at the front entrance.
I watched the Super Bowl.
Mon Feb 14. San Jose State University and San Francisco State University reopened their campuses for in-person learning.
Police in Windsor, Ontario in Canada arrested protesters blocking the US and Canada border at Ambassador Bridge.
Tue Feb 15. The last day of California's state mask mandated. Counties can issue local mask mandates. Masks are required in schools, public transit, hospitals, and nursing homes. Unvaccinated people must continue wearing masks.
Returned Christmas gifts at REI and Target. Shopped at Smart ;amp Final.
Wed Feb 16. US protestors at US and Canada borders ended their protests.
CA became the first state to announce the "endemic" approach. Gov Newsom's plan is prevention and quick reaction. No mask mandates and shutdowns. Identify surges and variants quickly. Send health care workers to minimize case increases. Supply tests to high-risk areas. Catch false information before it spreads. The definition of endemic is the virus exists while population builds immunity.
Thur Feb 17. No new COVID-19 cases at the Beijing Olympics for the first time. All athletes, team officials, and workers were tested daily.
Sat Feb 19. Scientists from Japan discovered the BA.2 omicron subvariant which spreads faster. It might cause more severe diseases and resist current vaccines. The BA.2 was called the stealth omicron. The World Health Organization (WHO) said BA.2 is 30% more contagious than omicron. BA.2 was detected in 74 countries and 47 US states. The CDC said 4% of Americans were infected with BA.2.
Mon Feb 21. Australia opened its borders to international travelers. Travelers must be fully vaccinated.
Tue Feb 22. The weather was hail and light rain. The last time the Bay Area experienced rain was Sun Jan 9.
Thur Feb 24. The New York City Marathon planned full capacity for 2022. The 2020 was cancelled. The 2021 was held with reduced capacity. Runners must be fully vaccinated. The race is scheduled for Nov 6. A lottery is drawn on Mar 30.
Russia invaded Ukraine.
Fri Feb 25. The CDC released new guidelines for areas where COVID-19 cases are low. There is less focus on positive test rates and more focus on hospitalization rates. Low case areas people can take off their masks. High risk areas masks are advised. Airports, train stations, and bus stations masks must be worn. People who tested positive or show COVID-19 symptoms must wear masks.
Sun Feb 27. 250 million free COVID-19 tests are unclaimed from the Federal Government. President Joe Biden announced each household could request four free tests per household during the omicron surge in Jan. 45 million tests were requested on the first day of availability. The average orders per day is 100,000 as of today.
Mon Feb 28. California announced indoor mask mandate ends on Tue Mar 1 for unvaccinated people. Schools and child care facilities mask mandate ends Sat Mar 12. Oregon and Washington announced the same mask policies. The reason is declining COVID-19 case rates and hospitalization rates along the west coast. Masks are required in health care settings, prisons, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities, and public transportation. Local governments and school districts can enact stricter mask enforcements, rules, and mandates.
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