New Report Shows Free Access to COVID Home Tests Works, Yet Some Still Face Challenges
Today, Safely Opening Schools (SOS), a project of the Public Health Institute, released a “Secret Shopper Report'' that analyzes the effectiveness of the January 2022 federal emergency measure requiring health insurers to provide up to 8 free COVID-19 home tests a month for insured Californians.
Berkeley public schools reinstate mask mandate through end of the academic year
Berkeley is bringing back mask requirements for public school students through the end of the academic year. For more on what’s next, KCBS Radio news anchors Patti Reising and Jeff Bell spoke with Ana Vasudeo, managing director of Safely Opening Schools. Listen to it here!
COVID-19 testing in schools: Double-down or phase it out?
The logistical and financial burdens of school-managed testing are worth it if it keeps students learning in classrooms, some education stakeholders say. Dr. Lynn Silver and Ana Vasudeo of the Safely Opening Schools program are featured. Read more here.
Los Angeles Times Letter to Editor: Yes, California should require all K-12 students to be vaccinated
COVID-19 is not harmless for kids, especially now. In January 2021, kids accounted for just 1.6% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations nationally; today, that number is 6%. The death of a 15-month-old from the virus was reported in L.A. County this week. More than 140,000 children have lost a caregiver to COVID-19. More than 6,400 have the longer-term inflammatory syndrome that can devastate vital organs. Read more here.
