mercurynews--2020-08-06--How the missing California Marines, sailor and amphibious vehicle were found

A U.S. Navy diving and salvage ship is on its way to the northwest end of San Clemente Island to begin recovering eight servicemen and a seafaring vehicle found after several days searching the seafloor .
The Navy ship should arrive in the next few days , a Marine Corps official said .
“ Everyone is working as fast as they can to get the assets out there.
” Another Navy ship , the HOS Dominator , typically used for submarine recovery , deployed its underwater remote vehicle to find the sunken amphibious assault vehicle .
It had already been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived off the island on Friday , July 31 , jumping in to help with the search and rescue operation , which later became a recovery mission .
The armored-tracked vehicle sank on July 30 , after leaving a beach on the island ’ s northwest side for a shore-to-ship training maneuver with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton .
The AAV was on its way back to the USS Somerset , a Navy transport dock , when it started taking on water .
There were 16 service members onboard ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AAV and one Marine , Lance Cpl .
Guillermo S. Perez , 20 , of New Braunfels , Texas , was declared dead at the scene .
The missing seven Marines and one Navy sailor are Pfc .
Bryan J. Baltierra , 18 , of Corona ; Lance Cpl .
Marco A. Barranco , 21 , of Montebello ; Pfc .
Evan A. Bath , 19 , of Oak Creek , Wis. ; U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem , 22 , of Stockton ; Pfc .
Jack Ryan Ostrovsky , 21 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wesley A. Rodd , 23 , of Harris , Texas ; Lance Cpl .
Chase D. Sweetwood , 18 , of Portland , Ore. and Cpl .
Cesar A. Villanueva , 21 , of Riverside .
With the coordinates provided , the Dominator ’ s remote vehicle , equipped with a video camera and sonar , searched the seafloor for 38 hours .
On Sunday , Aug. 2 , a second Navy ship arrived with an autonomous underwater vehicle that began doing grid searches with side-scan sonar .
The side-scan sonar covers a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dominator ’ s remote vehicle .
The autonomous vehicle identified three points of interest .
Armed with those coordinates , the Dominator ’ s crew lowered its remote vehicle back into the sea and found the sunken AAV sitting on a smooth sandy seafloor about 400 feet below the water ’ s surface .
It also confirmed the missing servicemen with video , officials said .
The Dominator will remain on site and keep watch over the AAV and the service members .
• Bodies of 7 missing California Marines and sailor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Nine men who died in Marine training accident came from across California and around the country • 4 Marines from California among 8 service members presumed dead off San Clemente Island When the new ship arrives and equipment is in place , a dignified transfer of the Marines and sailor will occur , officials said .
They will be taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware under the care of Mortuary Affairs before they are released to their families .
Aleta Bath , whose son , Evan , is among those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings a bit of relief .
“ I know they ’ ll be bringing my baby home .
”

A U.S. Navy diving and salvage ship is on its way to the northwest end of San Clemente Island to begin recovering eight servicemen and a seafaring vehicle found after several days searching the seafloor.
The Navy ship should arrive in the next few days, a Marine Corps official said. “Everyone is working as fast as they can to get the assets out there.”
Another Navy ship, the HOS Dominator, typically used for submarine recovery, deployed its underwater remote vehicle to find the sunken amphibious assault vehicle. It had already been doing other work in the area and arrived off the island on Friday, July 31, jumping in to help with the search and rescue operation, which later became a recovery mission.
The armored-tracked vehicle sank on July 30, after leaving a beach on the island’s northwest side for a shore-to-ship training maneuver with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton.
The AAV was on its way back to the USS Somerset, a Navy transport dock, when it started taking on water. There were 16 service members onboard; seven Marines were rescued after climbing from the AAV and one Marine, Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, was declared dead at the scene.
The missing seven Marines and one Navy sailor are Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona; Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello; Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wis.; U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton; Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Bend, Ore.; Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Harris, Texas; Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Ore. and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside.
With the coordinates provided, the Dominator’s remote vehicle, equipped with a video camera and sonar, searched the seafloor for 38 hours. On Sunday, Aug. 2, a second Navy ship arrived with an autonomous underwater vehicle that began doing grid searches with side-scan sonar.
The side-scan sonar covers a larger area than the sonar system onboard the Dominator’s remote vehicle.
The autonomous vehicle identified three points of interest. Armed with those coordinates, the Dominator’s crew lowered its remote vehicle back into the sea and found the sunken AAV sitting on a smooth sandy seafloor about 400 feet below the water’s surface. It also confirmed the missing servicemen with video, officials said.
The Dominator will remain on site and keep watch over the AAV and the service members.
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Aleta Bath, whose son, Evan, is among those who died, said the upcoming recovery brings a bit of relief. “I know they’ll be bringing my baby home.”


mercurynews--2020-08-06--Map: California had 4,770 new coronavirus cases and 135 new deaths reported Wednesday, hospitalizati

Map: California had 4,770 new coronavirus cases and 135 new deaths reported Wednesday, hospitalizations rose

California had 4,770 new cases of the coronavirus and 135 additional related deaths reported as of Wednesday .
The state @ @ @ @ @ cases is at least 530,375 and 9,821 people have died , according to unofficial counts @ @ @ @ @ in the state increased by 131 bringing the total to 7,761 , as of Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ from the state ’ s COVID watchlist .
Modoc County reported two more cases of @ @ @ @ @ to four ; Alpine County is now the county with the fewest cases , 2 @ @ @ @ @ breakdown of cases by age is as follows : The state ’ s breakdown of @ @ @ @ @ as follows : To obtain the complete pdf archive of the coronavirus daily tracker page @ @ @ @ @ number and you ’ ll also receive the daily newsletter .
You can also follow @ @ @ @ @

California had 4,770 new cases of the coronavirus and 135 additional related deaths reported as of Wednesday.
The state’s total number of cases is at least 530,375 and 9,821 people have died, according to unofficial counts from county websites.
Hospitalizations in the state increased by 131 bringing the total to 7,761, as of Wednesday.
Sonoma County was removed from the state’s COVID watchlist.
Modoc County reported two more cases of coronavirus bringing its county total to four; Alpine County is now the county with the fewest cases, 2.
The state’s breakdown of cases by age is as follows:
5 and younger: 2% (10,370)5-17: 7.3% (38,154)18-34: 35.4% (185,766)35-49: 25.1% (131,521)50-59: 14.1% (73,772)60-64: 5.1% (26,636)65-69: 3.5% (18,393)70-74: 2.4% (12,805)75-79: 1.7% (8,899)80 and older: 3.4% (17,750)
The state’s breakdown of deaths by age group is as follows:
5 and younger: 0% (0)5-17: 0% (1)18-34: 1.5% (142)35-49: 5.8% (548)50-59: 9.9% (945)60-64: 7.9% (748)65-69: 9.8% (932)70-74: 11.3% (1,074)75-79: 11.3% (1,072)80 and older: 42.6% (4,057)
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To obtain the complete pdf archive of the coronavirus daily tracker page, send us your subscription number and you’ll also receive the daily newsletter. You can also follow the daily tracker on Facebook


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Talks over next coronavirus relief bill at risk of collapse

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump huddled at the White House Thursday with the Senate ’ s top Republican , searching for a way forward on vital COVID-19 rescue money , while Trump ’ s top bargainers returned to Capitol Hill amid increasing concern that negotiations with Democrats might collapse .
The impasse in the negotiations is putting at risk more than $ 100 billion to help reopen schools , a fresh round of $ 1,200 direct payments to most people , and hundreds of billions of dollars for state and local governments to help them avoid furloughing workers and cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Mitch McConnell is a key player in the troubled talks and possesses far more experience than Trump ’ s administration negotiating team , which is publicly frustrated by the inflexible tactics of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y .
The Democratic duo has not yielded much ground from an unprecedented $ 3.5 trillion House-passed rescue package .
McConnell seemed to downplay the significance of the Trump meeting , telling a reporter merely that “ we talked a little bit about everything.
” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a political and legislative landscape that ’ s tilted in their favor .
Trump and McConnell both badly want an agreement , but Democrats control the House and may actually provide the lion ’ s share of votes in the Senate .
The votes , as Pelosi often says , are the currency of the realm .
The Democratic duo has stayed in sync throughout the talks — which they demanded — even reminding reporters Thursday that their relationship dates to Schumer ’ s time as a hard-charging House member in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal coronavirus aid package needs to be huge in order to meet the moment : a surge in cases and deaths , double-digit joblessness , and the threat of poverty for millions of the newly unemployed .
“ We believe the patient needs a major operation while Republicans want to apply just a Band-Aid , ” Schumer said .
“ We won ’ t let them just pass the Band-Aid , go home and leave America bleeding.
” After a Wednesday session that produced no progress , White House chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to Pelosi ’ s Capitol suite Thursday evening to confront the gulf in their negotiating stances .
Both sides have set a goal of agreeing on a deal by week ’ s end — though that is appearing increasingly out of reach .
“ I wouldn ’ t be here if I didn ’ t have at least some glimmer of hope , ” Meadows said entering Pelosi ’ s office .
“ If they ’ re willing to be serious about negotiations , then we ’ ll reach a deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hopefully , we make more progress today than we have in the last several days.
” The White House is also promising that Trump will attempt to use executive orders to address elements of the congressional package involving evictions and jobless benefits .
But there ’ s no evidence that the strategy would have much impact or be anything close to what ’ s necessary , and Pelosi appeared unimpressed at a morning news conference .
“ I don ’ t think they know what they ’ re talking about , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi and Schumer staked out a firm position to extend a lapsed $ 600-per-week bonus jobless benefit , demanded generous child care assistance and reiterated their demand for food stamps and assistance to renters and homeowners facing eviction or foreclosure .
“ Don ’ t nickel and dime our children , ” Pelosi said .
“ Don ’ t say ‘ we want to give a tax break to a business lunch and not give more money for children to have food stamps . '
” Pelosi was referring to a GOP proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 50 % to 100 % .
The idea seems likely to die , along with President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to cut the Social Security payroll tax .
But Schumer and Pelosi continue to push to restore a tax break for state and local taxes paid mostly by wealthier people with high incomes and valuable homes .
McConnell , R-Ky. , is likely to have to assume a higher profile if the talks are to come to a successful close , but he issued a grim assessment of the situation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer are not negotiating in good faith .
“ Day after day , they ’ ve stonewalled the president ’ s team .
Day by day , they ’ ve tried to invent new euphemisms to create the illusion of progress , ” McConnell said Thursday .
Frustration was palpable among Republican senators shuttling in and out of a GOP lunch session , some of whom say Schumer is intent on using the situation as a hammer against Republicans .
Schumer is desperate to win the Senate majority just as Republicans are desperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
“ As long as they calculate that they ’ re better off politically doing nothing , it ’ s going to be hard for us to move forward , ” said Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. “ And that ’ s the calculation they ’ ve made , it appears.
” McConnell is sending the Senate home rather than forcing impatient senators to bide their time while Democrats play hardball .
That suggests a vote won ’ t come until late next week or even after .
Progress has been scant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of negotiation .
White House negotiators made some concessions on jobless benefits and aid to state and local governments in a Tuesday session — and then promptly got scalded by Republicans after details leaked out .
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But Pelosi , a sometimes imperious force whose experience in negotiations is far more extensive than Meadows , will likely have to make some concessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to states and local governments far exceeds what independent experts such as Moody ’ s Analytics recommend , for example , and her position in favor of restoring the expensive state and local tax break is probably unsustainable .
“ She ’ s not going to allow the negotiations to collapse .
She knows what the right moment is to pull the trigger and to try and close the deal , ” said Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf .
“ But she also knows when to wait and to let the other side come @ @ @ @

By Andrew Taylor | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump huddled at the White House Thursday with the Senate’s top Republican, searching for a way forward on vital COVID-19 rescue money, while Trump’s top bargainers returned to Capitol Hill amid increasing concern that negotiations with Democrats might collapse.
The impasse in the negotiations is putting at risk more than $100 billion to help reopen schools, a fresh round of $1,200 direct payments to most people, and hundreds of billions of dollars for state and local governments to help them avoid furloughing workers and cutting services as tax revenues shrivel.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a key player in the troubled talks and possesses far more experience than Trump’s administration negotiating team, which is publicly frustrated by the inflexible tactics of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The Democratic duo has not yielded much ground from an unprecedented $3.5 trillion House-passed rescue package.
McConnell seemed to downplay the significance of the Trump meeting, telling a reporter merely that “we talked a little bit about everything.”
And Pelosi and Schumer were still exuding confidence in a political and legislative landscape that’s tilted in their favor. Trump and McConnell both badly want an agreement, but Democrats control the House and may actually provide the lion’s share of votes in the Senate. The votes, as Pelosi often says, are the currency of the realm.
The Democratic duo has stayed in sync throughout the talks — which they demanded — even reminding reporters Thursday that their relationship dates to Schumer’s time as a hard-charging House member in the 1980s and early 1990s.
They say the federal coronavirus aid package needs to be huge in order to meet the moment: a surge in cases and deaths, double-digit joblessness, and the threat of poverty for millions of the newly unemployed.
“We believe the patient needs a major operation while Republicans want to apply just a Band-Aid,” Schumer said. “We won’t let them just pass the Band-Aid, go home and leave America bleeding.”
After a Wednesday session that produced no progress, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin returned to Pelosi’s Capitol suite Thursday evening to confront the gulf in their negotiating stances. Both sides have set a goal of agreeing on a deal by week’s end — though that is appearing increasingly out of reach.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have at least some glimmer of hope,” Meadows said entering Pelosi’s office. “If they’re willing to be serious about negotiations, then we’ll reach a deal. The president wants to get a deal. Hopefully, we make more progress today than we have in the last several days.”
The White House is also promising that Trump will attempt to use executive orders to address elements of the congressional package involving evictions and jobless benefits. But there’s no evidence that the strategy would have much impact or be anything close to what’s necessary, and Pelosi appeared unimpressed at a morning news conference.
“I don’t think they know what they’re talking about,” Pelosi said dismissively.
Addressing reporters, Pelosi and Schumer staked out a firm position to extend a lapsed $600-per-week bonus jobless benefit, demanded generous child care assistance and reiterated their demand for food stamps and assistance to renters and homeowners facing eviction or foreclosure.
“Don’t nickel and dime our children,” Pelosi said. “Don’t say ‘we want to give a tax break to a business lunch and not give more money for children to have food stamps.'”
Pelosi was referring to a GOP proposal to increase the deduction for business meals from 50% to 100%. The idea seems likely to die, along with President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut the Social Security payroll tax. But Schumer and Pelosi continue to push to restore a tax break for state and local taxes paid mostly by wealthier people with high incomes and valuable homes.
McConnell, R-Ky., is likely to have to assume a higher profile if the talks are to come to a successful close, but he issued a grim assessment of the situation on Thursday, again complaining that Pelosi and Schumer are not negotiating in good faith.
“Day after day, they’ve stonewalled the president’s team. Day by day, they’ve tried to invent new euphemisms to create the illusion of progress,” McConnell said Thursday.
Frustration was palpable among Republican senators shuttling in and out of a GOP lunch session, some of whom say Schumer is intent on using the situation as a hammer against Republicans. Schumer is desperate to win the Senate majority just as Republicans are desperate to hold on in a terrible political year.
“As long as they calculate that they’re better off politically doing nothing, it’s going to be hard for us to move forward,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. “And that’s the calculation they’ve made, it appears.”
McConnell is sending the Senate home rather than forcing impatient senators to bide their time while Democrats play hardball. That suggests a vote won’t come until late next week or even after. Progress has been scant in the talks despite more than a week of negotiation.
White House negotiators made some concessions on jobless benefits and aid to state and local governments in a Tuesday session — and then promptly got scalded by Republicans after details leaked out.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms National News | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge But Pelosi, a sometimes imperious force whose experience in negotiations is far more extensive than Meadows, will likely have to make some concessions soon. Her dollar figure for aid to states and local governments far exceeds what independent experts such as Moody’s Analytics recommend, for example, and her position in favor of restoring the expensive state and local tax break is probably unsustainable.
“She’s not going to allow the negotiations to collapse. She knows what the right moment is to pull the trigger and to try and close the deal,” said Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf. “But she also knows when to wait and to let the other side come to you.”


mercurynews--2020-08-07--State pledges ‘full accounting’ of coronavirus data delays

As technical problems continued to plague the California public health department ’ s coronavirus reporting system Thursday , overwhelmed and frustrated local officials in some counties stopped updating their daily case totals , resorting instead to old-fashioned spreadsheets to track the spread of the deadly virus .
The system-wide glitch has left counties in a holding pattern for basic information about case counts and positivity rates , but state officials remained silent Thursday about the timeline for a fix or an explanation of what has caused the massive data lag .
Local officials have said the state assured them the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not complete , but it raises deep concerns about the true scope of positive tests and trends .
“ They don ’ t know where the problem is , so they don ’ t know how soon it ’ ll be fixed , because they ’ re still trying to figure it out , ” said Santa Clara County CEO Jeff Smith .
“ I ’ m emotionally pretty depressed about the whole thing because this is absolutely the worst time in the world to get this kind of information.
” Death totals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California reported more than 130 new COVID-19 deaths Thursday , sending its total number over 10,000 , according to data compiled by this news organization .
Billed as a real-time source of data for the state and local health departments , the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange , or CalREDIE , collects information about coronavirus cases from labs and sends it back to county public health departments .
The technical problem may stem from a data overload of Rhapsody , a privately-owned platform that feeds lab reports into CalREDIE , Smith said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state health department did not respond to detailed questions about the scope of the problem , but provided a statement from Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly that “ a team of dozens has been working around the clock to resolve these data problems.
” “ We pledge to share a full accounting of when these problems began and their magnitude as soon as we have a clear understanding — and the solutions to address them , ” Ghaly added .
After formally contacting counties about the problem starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labs conducting testing to provide data manually so the state could send it to counties in spreadsheet form .
Local officials said they may begin pulling results on their own from health care providers or directly from labs themselves .
But when San Mateo County officials tried that and parsed through lab data Thursday , what they saw contained needless results from other states like Utah and Nevada , Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow told this news organization .
“ They want to take an automated process and turn it into an analog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had one thousand people who can deconstruct spreadsheets , ” Morrow said .
“ It ’ s like , okay , I could spend all day taking out Utah residents , but I don ’ t think there ’ s anything fixable in this except fixing the automated process.
” Some jurisdictions , such as Santa Cruz , Ventura , Stanislaus and Kings counties , did not report new case numbers at all Wednesday , with several citing the data problems .
San Francisco officials also said they would stop until a solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public officials , epidemiologists said the under-reported case numbers likely aren ’ t obscuring alarming trends .
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong , an epidemiologist with University of California , San Francisco , noted that stabilizing hospitalizations over the past week are evidence that cases are indeed going down as Gov .
Gavin Newsom has said — even if it ’ s not clear exactly how much since Newsom ’ s decision to shut down more sectors starting in mid-July .
Hospitalization numbers are reported through a separate system that is unaffected by the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the past week , confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased by more than 500 patients to 6,069 people , according to the California Department of Public Health .
“ It falls into what we expect — Newsom makes a decision , test positivity rates go down , then there ’ s a lag , then hospitalizations go down , ” Chin-Hong said , adding that the CalREDIE technical problem “ has a lot of social implications , but not for our appreciation of what ’ s actually happening in the community.
” Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on or off its watch list until the data delays are resolved .
But even at currently reported levels , cases are too high to allow any Bay Area counties to exit the state ’ s watch list and start reopening again .
Though hospitalizations are trending downward , no local county meets the state ’ s threshold for controlling case numbers .
San Mateo County , with a rate of 12.5 cases per 10,000 residents over the past two weeks , is closest to falling below the state threshold , followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of 13.9 per 10,000 .
The state ’ s threshold is 10 .
But for Morrow , the state ’ s metrics are riddled with arbitrariness to begin with as now illustrated by the direct link “ between this flawed data process and closures of businesses and closures of schools ” that appears to have no imminent solution .
“ I ’ m frustrated .
It does not have to be this way , ” Morrow said .

As technical problems continued to plague the California public health department’s coronavirus reporting system Thursday, overwhelmed and frustrated local officials in some counties stopped updating their daily case totals, resorting instead to old-fashioned spreadsheets to track the spread of the deadly virus.
The system-wide glitch has left counties in a holding pattern for basic information about case counts and positivity rates, but state officials remained silent Thursday about the timeline for a fix or an explanation of what has caused the massive data lag. Local officials have said the state assured them the data they are getting is valid but not complete, but it raises deep concerns about the true scope of positive tests and trends.
“They don’t know where the problem is, so they don’t know how soon it’ll be fixed, because they’re still trying to figure it out,” said Santa Clara County CEO Jeff Smith. “I’m emotionally pretty depressed about the whole thing because this is absolutely the worst time in the world to get this kind of information.”
Death totals are unaffected by the glitch, and California reported more than 140 new COVID-19 deaths Thursday, sending its total number over 10,000, according to data compiled by this news organization.
Billed as a real-time source of data for the state and local health departments, the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange, or CalREDIE, collects information about coronavirus cases from labs and sends it back to county public health departments. The technical problem may stem from a data overload of Rhapsody, a privately-owned platform that feeds lab reports into CalREDIE, Smith said he was told by the state.
Spokespersons for the state health department did not respond to detailed questions about the scope of the problem but provided a statement from Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly that “a team of dozens has been working around the clock to resolve these data problems.”
“We pledge to share a full accounting of when these problems began and their magnitude as soon as we have a clear understanding — and the solutions to address them,” Ghaly added.
After formally contacting counties about the problem starting in late July, the state asked labs conducting testing to provide data manually so the state could send it to counties in spreadsheet form. Local officials said they may begin pulling results on their own from health care providers or directly from labs themselves.
But when San Mateo County officials tried that and parsed through lab data Thursday, what they saw contained needless results from other states such as Utah and Nevada, Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow told this news organization.
“They want to take an automated process and turn it into an analog process — which is great if I had one thousand people who can deconstruct spreadsheets,” Morrow said. “It’s like, okay, I could spend all day taking out Utah residents, but I don’t think there’s anything fixable in this except fixing the automated process.”
Some jurisdictions, such as Santa Cruz, Ventura, Stanislaus and Kings counties, did not report new case numbers at all Wednesday, with several citing the data problems. San Francisco officials also said they would stop until a solution is underway.
Despite mounting frustration from public officials, epidemiologists said the under-reported case numbers likely aren’t obscuring alarming trends. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an epidemiologist with University of California, San Francisco, noted that stabilizing hospitalizations over the past week are evidence that cases are indeed going down as Gov. Gavin Newsom has said — even if it’s not clear exactly how much since Newsom’s decision to shut down more sectors starting in mid-July. Hospitalization numbers are reported through a separate system that is unaffected by the data problems, the state has said.
Over the past week, confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased by more than 500 patients to 6,069 people, according to the California Department of Public Health.
“It falls into what we expect — Newsom makes a decision, test positivity rates go down, then there’s a lag, then hospitalizations go down,” Chin-Hong said, adding that the CalREDIE technical problem “has a lot of social implications, but not for our appreciation of what’s actually happening in the community.”
Still, the state has paused taking counties on or off its watch list until the data delays are resolved. But even at currently reported levels, cases are too high to allow any Bay Area counties to exit the state’s watchlist and start reopening again. Though hospitalizations are trending downward, no local county meets the state’s threshold for controlling case numbers. San Mateo County, with a rate of 12.5 cases per 10,000 residents over the past two weeks, is closest to falling below the state threshold, followed by Santa Clara County, with a per-capita rate of 13.9 per 10,000. The state’s threshold is 10.
But for Morrow, the state’s metrics are riddled with arbitrariness to begin with as now illustrated by the direct link “between this flawed data process and closures of businesses and closures of schools” that appears to have no imminent solution.
“I’m frustrated. It does not have to be this way,” Morrow said.
Staff writer Evan Webeck contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Mauricio Dubón impresses — and ruffles feathers — in Giants’ loss to Rockies

Mauricio Dubón may not have all of the natural tools that Bryce Harper possesses or that David Ortiz once had .
But in the eyes of Giants manager Gabe Kapler , Dubón plays with a lot of that same emotion , maybe has that same kind of swagger .
So Kapler was making no apologies Thursday after Dubón enthusiastically celebrated a seventh inning home run — his first of the season — in what became a 6-4 Giants loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at Coors Field .
After he hit the 414-foot homer to left off of Rockies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 3-1 lead , Dubón turned and yelled toward his team ’ s dugout — perhaps a no-no among baseball purists , especially for rookies .
“ Bryce Harper ’ s like that , ” Kapler said .
“ Every time he hits a big home run or does something great on the field , he wants everybody in his dugout to experience that .
He wants them to celebrate with him .
I think the same could be true for ( Ortiz ) .
” Kapler managed Harper in Philadelphia last season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2004 to 2006 .
He was not comparing Dubon , 26 , to either star player , but noted that perhaps his personality is along the same lines .
Sign up for Kerry Crowley ’ s free new newsletter and podcast .
“ I appreciate Mauricio for the energy and the passion that he brings to the field every day , ” Kapler said .
It ’ s unclear if the Rockies appreciated that same passion , as they answered with five runs of their own in their half of the seventh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases following a two-run homer that gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead , he shot an extended look toward Dubón in center field .
Charlie Blackmon followed that up with a two-run homer of his own , as the Rockies took a 6-3 lead .
Dubón said he didn ’ t notice Murphy ’ s not-so-subtle message at first , but was told what had happened later on .
“ I thought it was cool , ” Dubón said .
“ Honestly , I thought it was pretty awesome.
” Of his home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing how he felt at that time , given that he had only received 25 at-bats in 13 games , and that he had grounded out in his first two times at the plate Thursday .
“ I respect ( Murphy ) a lot , ” said Dubón , who also made a nice leaping catch in center field in the second inning to rob Matt Kemp of extra bases .
“ I enjoyed what he did , too.
” There was some speculation that Dubón would be one of the two players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training site in Sacramento to get their active roster down to 28 players , the maximum allowed by MLB as of Thursday .
Kapler , though , said the Giants had their reasons for keeping Dubón around , including his versatility and his right-handed bat .
The Giants instead optioned pitcher Andrew Suarez and Steven Duggar .
“ There ’ s room in the game for guys who are quiet assassins , put their heads down and walk around the bases like Matt Williams did , ” Kapler said .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get really excited .
As long as that emotion and excitement is directed to our dugout and not theirs , I ’ m in support of players expressing themselves.
” The seventh inning fireworks were a part of a difficult day for the Giants ’ bullpen .
Relievers Rico Garcia and Caleb Baragar allowed the home runs to Murphy and Blackmon , respectively .
It also spoiled the outing for Giants starter Tyler Anderson , who threw five scoreless innings in what was his longest outing since March of last year .
Anderson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time since he signed with the Giants as a free agent in December , allowed two hits and two walks and threw an economical 66 pitches .
After Anderson came out of the game in the sixth .
reliever Wandy Peralta gave up a sixth inning solo home run to Trevor Story to break a scoreless tie .
Anderson was on a pitch count Thursday .
In three appearances for the Giants this season before Thursday , Anderson had a 0-1 record with a 3.68 ERA , allowing eight hits and three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson threw in Sunday ’ s 9-5 loss to Texas , allowing one earned run in two innings .
• Bullpen crumbles in thin Colorado air as Giants fall to Rockies , drop series • Brandon Belt breaks out , Logan Webb ends long ( and bad ) streak for Giants starters in win • Evaluating the San Francisco Giants ’ grand outfield experiment through 20 % of the season Anderson spent his first four big league seasons with the Rockies , going 18-24 with a the right t4.69 ERA in 73 games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end after he had knee surgery in June of last season .
“ I ’ d be the first person to always go out there and fight for more innings , but to me that felt like the right time , ” Anderson said .
“ I hadn ’ t thrown more than three or three-plus , I hadn ’ t thrown a lot of pitches .
There ’ s been a lot of injuries going around baseball , so ( coming our after five ) was the right move there.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five games and are in fourth place in the National League West .
It doesn ’ t get much easier for them through the remainder of their 10-game road trip , as they face the Los Angels Dodgers from Friday to Sunday and the defending American League champion Houston Astros from Aug. 10-12 .
Against the Dodgers , Kapler said the Giants will start Jeff Samardzija on Friday , Johnny Cueto on Saturday and Kevin Gausman on Sunday .
SF Giants Gameday : Listen to the Bay Area News Group ’ s daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our beat reporter Kerry Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .
We Need Your Support !
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I ’ ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you ’ ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com .
Click here for our latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest East Bay Times offer .
Thank you !
— Kerry Crowley

Mauricio Dubón may not have all of the natural tools that Bryce Harper possesses or that David Ortiz once had. But in the eyes of Giants manager Gabe Kapler, Dubón plays with a lot of that same emotion, maybe has that same kind of swagger.
So Kapler was making no apologies Thursday after Dubón enthusiastically celebrated a seventh inning home run — his first of the season — in what became a 6-4 Giants loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at Coors Field.
After he hit the 414-foot homer to left off of Rockies starter Kyle Freeland to give the Giants a 3-1 lead, Dubón turned and yelled toward his team’s dugout — perhaps a no-no among baseball purists, especially for rookies.
“Bryce Harper’s like that,” Kapler said. “Every time he hits a big home run or does something great on the field, he wants everybody in his dugout to experience that. He wants them to celebrate with him. I think the same could be true for (Ortiz).”
Kapler managed Harper in Philadelphia last season, and played with Ortiz in Boston from 2004 to 2006. He was not comparing Dubon, 26, to either star player, but noted that perhaps his personality is along the same lines.
Sign up for Kerry Crowley’s free new newsletter and podcast.
“I appreciate Mauricio for the energy and the passion that he brings to the field every day,” Kapler said.
It’s unclear if the Rockies appreciated that same passion, as they answered with five runs of their own in their half of the seventh.
First HR of the season for Dubon and it gives the Giants the lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2Cztm9eP55 — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 6, 2020
As Daniel Murphy was rounding the bases following a two-run homer that gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead, he shot an extended look toward Dubón in center field.
Charlie Blackmon followed that up with a two-run homer of his own, as the Rockies took a 6-3 lead.
Dubón said he didn’t notice Murphy’s not-so-subtle message at first, but was told what had happened later on.
“I thought it was cool,” Dubón said. “Honestly, I thought it was pretty awesome.”
Of his home run, Dubón said he was simply expressing how he felt at that time, given that he had only received 25 at-bats in 13 games, and that he had grounded out in his first two times at the plate Thursday.
“I respect (Murphy) a lot,” said Dubón, who also made a nice leaping catch in center field in the second inning to rob Matt Kemp of extra bases. “I enjoyed what he did, too.”
There was some speculation that Dubón would be one of the two players the Giants would send to their alternative training site in Sacramento to get their active roster down to 28 players, the maximum allowed by MLB as of Thursday.
Kapler, though, said the Giants had their reasons for keeping Dubón around, including his versatility and his right-handed bat. The Giants instead optioned pitcher Andrew Suarez and Steven Duggar.
“There’s room in the game for guys who are quiet assassins, put their heads down and walk around the bases like Matt Williams did,” Kapler said. “There’s plenty of room for players who get really excited. As long as that emotion and excitement is directed to our dugout and not theirs, I’m in support of players expressing themselves.”
Dubon 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gZsNQAQeG7 — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 6, 2020
The seventh inning fireworks were a part of a difficult day for the Giants’ bullpen. Relievers Rico Garcia and Caleb Baragar allowed the home runs to Murphy and Blackmon, respectively.
It also spoiled the outing for Giants starter Tyler Anderson, who threw five scoreless innings in what was his longest outing since March of last year. Anderson, facing his former team for the first time since he signed with the Giants as a free agent in December, allowed two hits and two walks and threw an economical 66 pitches.
After Anderson came out of the game in the sixth. reliever Wandy Peralta gave up a sixth inning solo home run to Trevor Story to break a scoreless tie.
Anderson was on a pitch count Thursday. In three appearances for the Giants this season before Thursday, Anderson had a 0-1 record with a 3.68 ERA, allowing eight hits and three earned runs in 7 1/3 innings. Anderson threw in Sunday’s 9-5 loss to Texas, allowing one earned run in two innings.
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“I’d be the first person to always go out there and fight for more innings, but to me that felt like the right time,” Anderson said. “I hadn’t thrown more than three or three-plus, I hadn’t thrown a lot of pitches. There’s been a lot of injuries going around baseball, so (coming our after five) was the right move there.”
The Giants have now dropped four of five games and are in fourth place in the National League West. It doesn’t get much easier for them through the remainder of their 10-game road trip, as they face the Los Angels Dodgers from Friday to Sunday and the defending American League champion Houston Astros from Aug. 10-12.
Against the Dodgers, Kapler said the Giants will start Jeff Samardzija on Friday, Johnny Cueto on Saturday and Kevin Gausman on Sunday.
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.
We Need Your Support!
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I’ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you’ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com. Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer. Thank you! — Kerry Crowley


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Martin Kaymer checks his highlight film, makes another one at PGA Championship

You can call this a comeback .
He hasn ’ t been here for years .
Not even Martin Kaymer could easily recognize the fellow who was the No .
1 golfer in the world , who won the PGA Championship 10 years ago and ran away with the U.S. Open six years ago , who drilled the winning putt for Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup and won the Players Championship in 2014 .
But he was quite familiar with his lookalike , the one who spent a forlorn week as an alternate to the Open Championship field at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guy who was ranked 191st in the world a year ago and is now 127th .
On Wednesday , Kaymer felt like doing something nice for himself .
He dialed up YouTube and watched the final nine holes of that 8-stroke Open victory at Pinehurst , as close to an unspoiled good walk as you ’ ll ever find in tournament golf .
“ I watched it and helped me believe my putting was good enough , ” Kaymer said .
“ My ball striking was good .
I went home after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some reason .
I felt i needed to lift my spirit a little bit .
I needed some positivity .
It was nice to relive those moments.
” So Kaymer rose before dawn on Thursday and rolled back the years at Harding Park in San Francisco .
He rolled in a 47-foot eagle in his fourth hole after a “ bullet of a 3-wood ” from 287 yards , he kept his tee shots in the civilized grass , and he came home with a four-under-par 66 .
“ Expectations were low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain Kaymer ’ s life at golf ’ s extremities ?
It began when everyone was convinced he was the No .
1 player of the world except him .
The way he saw it , he couldn ’ t move the ball from right-to-left well enough to compete at the Masters , and if he couldn ’ t compete at the Masters , he obviously wasn ’ t the best player in the world .
Those mental contortions befell Kaymer just before a wrist injury did .
But he seemed on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he stepped out to a 10-shot lead with 13 holes left at Abu Dhabi .
Incredibly , he shot a 75 and finished third , as Gary Stal of France won .
He hasn ’ t played much You Tube-worthy golf since then .
In 2018 Kaymer missed nine cuts on the European Tour and had only three Top 10 finishes .
He is only entered in this PGA because of his victory at Whistling Straits , when he bested Bubba Watson in a playoff after Dustin Johnson was penalized for grounding his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I watch that PGA sometimes , too , ” Kaymer said .
“ It was a dramatic finish .
I know you shouldn ’ t live in the past , but if the past can help you in this present moment , I ’ ll take it .
“ My priorities have changed a little bit .
Maybe I wasn ’ t as motivated as I should have been .
To get back out here after the pandemic is a huge motivation , but the way these guys play golf today , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes time to get used to it.
” You could argue that this PGA Championship is the most important sporting event to be played on schedule since the mass shutdown in March .
Still , the cypress-lined fairways of Harding Park were nearly empty .
It ’ s one thing to play in front of no fans in Hartford and Detroit , but major championships are like tent cities , dismantled after a week but alive nonetheless .
“ They introduced him and mentioned that he was the 1999 , 2000 , 2006 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you hear nothing , ” McIlroy said .
“ That ’ s pretty interesting.
” “ It ’ s the new norm , ” Woods said .
“ You obviously work off this energy at a major championship , ” said Jason Day ( 65 ) .
“ Usually it ’ s buzzing from Monday through Sunday .
But it ’ s still not the same .
You feel it ’ s a major championship and you feel it on the range , the extra intensity .
It was a little quieter out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t feel right.
” What felt very normal was the 66 by Brooks Koepka , the 2018 and 2019 champ who was largely disabled and disinterested until he finished second at Memphis last week .
He played ominous , unrelenting golf Thursday , hitting 15 of 18 greens .
He also prospered because he went back to a Taylor Made driver , although he had been playing Callaway .
“ I won ’ t mention its name because they don ’ t pay me , ” Koepka said , smiling .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” McIlroy said .
“ I think we ’ re all lucky he doesn ’ t find it every week.
” Most of them just want to find the laptop .

You can call this a comeback. He hasn’t been here for years.
Not even Martin Kaymer could easily recognize the fellow who was the No. 1 golfer in the world, who won the PGA Championship 10 years ago and ran away with the U.S. Open six years ago, who drilled the winning putt for Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup and won the Players Championship in 2014.
But he was quite familiar with his lookalike, the one who spent a forlorn week as an alternate to the Open Championship field at Royal Portrush and never got in, the guy who was ranked 191st in the world a year ago and is now 127th.
On Wednesday, Kaymer felt like doing something nice for himself. He dialed up YouTube and watched the final nine holes of that 8-stroke Open victory at Pinehurst, as close to an unspoiled good walk as you’ll ever find in tournament golf.
“I watched it and helped me believe my putting was good enough,” Kaymer said. “My ball striking was good. I went home after dinner and I was not that happy for some reason. I felt i needed to lift my spirit a little bit. I needed some positivity. It was nice to relive those moments.”
So Kaymer rose before dawn on Thursday and rolled back the years at Harding Park in San Francisco. He rolled in a 47-foot eagle in his fourth hole after a “bullet of a 3-wood” from 287 yards, he kept his tee shots in the civilized grass, and he came home with a four-under-par 66.
“Expectations were low,” he said.
How to explain Kaymer’s life at golf’s extremities? It began when everyone was convinced he was the No. 1 player of the world except him. The way he saw it, he couldn’t move the ball from right-to-left well enough to compete at the Masters, and if he couldn’t compete at the Masters, he obviously wasn’t the best player in the world.
Those mental contortions befell Kaymer just before a wrist injury did. But he seemed on top of his game in 2015, when he stepped out to a 10-shot lead with 13 holes left at Abu Dhabi. Incredibly, he shot a 75 and finished third, as Gary Stal of France won. He hasn’t played much You Tube-worthy golf since then.
In 2018 Kaymer missed nine cuts on the European Tour and had only three Top 10 finishes. He is only entered in this PGA because of his victory at Whistling Straits, when he bested Bubba Watson in a playoff after Dustin Johnson was penalized for grounding his club in a waste bunker.
“I watch that PGA sometimes, too,” Kaymer said. “It was a dramatic finish. I know you shouldn’t live in the past, but if the past can help you in this present moment, I’ll take it.
“My priorities have changed a little bit. Maybe I wasn’t as motivated as I should have been. To get back out here after the pandemic is a huge motivation, but the way these guys play golf today, the game has changed so much. It takes time to get used to it.”
You could argue that this PGA Championship is the most important sporting event to be played on schedule since the mass shutdown in March. Still, the cypress-lined fairways of Harding Park were nearly empty. It’s one thing to play in front of no fans in Hartford and Detroit, but major championships are like tent cities, dismantled after a week but alive nonetheless.
Rory McIlroy (70) was playing with Tiger Woods (68).
“They introduced him and mentioned that he was the 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007 PGA champion, and then you hear nothing,” McIlroy said. “That’s pretty interesting.”
“It’s the new norm,” Woods said.
“You obviously work off this energy at a major championship,” said Jason Day (65). “Usually it’s buzzing from Monday through Sunday. But it’s still not the same. You feel it’s a major championship and you feel it on the range, the extra intensity. It was a little quieter out there. But it still doesn’t feel right.”
What felt very normal was the 66 by Brooks Koepka, the 2018 and 2019 champ who was largely disabled and disinterested until he finished second at Memphis last week. He played ominous, unrelenting golf Thursday, hitting 15 of 18 greens.
He also prospered because he went back to a Taylor Made driver, although he had been playing Callaway. “I won’t mention its name because they don’t pay me,” Koepka said, smiling.
“He finds his comfort zone in these tournaments,” McIlroy said. “I think we’re all lucky he doesn’t find it every week.”
Most of them just want to find the laptop.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Hayward police release body-camera footage of shooting

HAYWARD — The city ’ s police department released a video combining body-camera footage , 911-caller recordings and limited information Thursday about the fatal shooting of a homicide suspect in a residential driveway last May .
The homicide , which happened May 1 , was the city ’ s seventh of the year .
County coroner ’ s bureau staff later identified the victim as 65-year-old transient Mike Lorenzo .
“ We take the use of force very seriously , especially when it results in a death , ” Hayward Police Chief Toney Chaplin said in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our community , so you have as much information as possible to create additional transparency as the Department continues to investigate this matter.
” According to newly released details Thursday , police responded just before 2:30 p.m. May 20 to the 22000 block of Wildwood Street near Kelly Street after receiving information that Stoney Ramirez , 23 , might be there .
Investigators had been seeking Ramirez , who was on searchable probation in an assault that ended in great bodily injury to another victim , as a person of interest in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyle Martinez and Dynaton Tran and an unnamed undercover police detective approached a residence on Wildwood , they saw Ramirez sitting inside a white vehicle parked in the driveway , and tried to block it from leaving .
In body-worn camera footage , officers can be seen ordering Ramirez to stop , with Ramirez using the car to back into a police vehicle behind him as officers stand nearby .
All three officers fire their weapons at Ramirez , then coordinate on approaching him , fearing he was armed and uncertain of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle and gave him first aid until paramedics arrived , but he was pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra ’ s office declined to look into the shooting after a request by the city manager , but the police department will continue investigations , with its criminal investigations bureau looking into Ramirez ’ s actions and its internal-affairs unit assessing the officers ’ actions .
“ The Hayward Police Department is still in the process of conducting this investigation and our understanding of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected , analyzed , and reviewed , ” a police statement read in part , adding that the department took no position on officer actions until an investigation was complete .
Some residents have protested against recent department actions , including the Alameda County District Attorney ’ s clearing of two officers who fatally shot Augustin Gonsalez on Nov. 15 , 2018 , as well as the May injury shooting of Eric “ Gato ” Rosalia , and called for swift and substantive reform at minimum .
Information about this and other incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s critical-incident page .

HAYWARD — The city’s police department released a video combining body-camera footage, 911-caller recordings and limited information Thursday about the fatal shooting of a homicide suspect in a residential driveway last May.
The homicide, which happened May 1, was the city’s seventh of the year. County coroner’s bureau staff later identified the victim as 65-year-old transient Mike Lorenzo.
“We take the use of force very seriously, especially when it results in a death,” Hayward Police Chief Toney Chaplin said in a statement.
“We’re sharing this information with our community, so you have as much information as possible to create additional transparency as the Department continues to investigate this matter.”
According to newly released details Thursday, police responded just before 2:30 p.m. May 20 to the 22000 block of Wildwood Street near Kelly Street after receiving information that Stoney Ramirez, 23, might be there. Investigators had been seeking Ramirez, who was on searchable probation in an assault that ended in great bodily injury to another victim, as a person of interest in the homicide, police said.
As Officers Kyle Martinez and Dynaton Tran and an unnamed undercover police detective approached a residence on Wildwood, they saw Ramirez sitting inside a white vehicle parked in the driveway, and tried to block it from leaving.
In body-worn camera footage, officers can be seen ordering Ramirez to stop, with Ramirez using the car to back into a police vehicle behind him as officers stand nearby. All three officers fire their weapons at Ramirez, then coordinate on approaching him, fearing he was armed and uncertain of his injuries. Officers then removed Ramirez from the vehicle and gave him first aid until paramedics arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office declined to look into the shooting after a request by the city manager, but the police department will continue investigations, with its criminal investigations bureau looking into Ramirez’s actions and its internal-affairs unit assessing the officers’ actions.
“The Hayward Police Department is still in the process of conducting this investigation and our understanding of this incident may change as additional evidence is collected, analyzed, and reviewed,” a police statement read in part, adding that the department took no position on officer actions until an investigation was complete.
Some residents have protested against recent department actions, including the Alameda County District Attorney’s clearing of two officers who fatally shot Augustin Gonsalez on Nov. 15, 2018, as well as the May injury shooting of Eric “Gato” Rosalia, and called for swift and substantive reform at minimum.
Information about this and other incidents may be seen at the department’s critical-incident page.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--The GOP is pushing Kayne. Will it really hurt Biden?

By Will Weissert | Associated Press WASHINGTON — Kanye West ’ s unlikely White House bid is getting help qualifying for presidential ballots in key states from Republicans around the country , fueling suspicions he ’ s being pushed to run by allies of President Donald Trump hoping to siphon support away from Joe Biden .
The rapper qualified for Colorado ’ s presidential ballot on Thursday , after the Secretary of State ’ s office verified that nine electors he submitted are all registered to vote in that state .
One of those was Matthew Zielinski , is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an officer with a county Republican Party in suburban Denver .
Zielinski tweeted that he believed in “ fair ballot access ” but declined further comment .
A similar pattern has played out in in Wisconsin , Ohio , Vermont and Arkansas , where lawyers or activists with GOP ties have been involved in securing the star ’ s place on the ballot .
The successful effort in battleground states Wisconsin and Ohio in particular raised red flags for Democrats , who are braced for a close race and anxious about any third-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection campaign has denied involvement , with spokesman Tim Murtaugh saying , “ We have no knowledge of what Kanye West is doing or who is doing it for him.
” Speaking to reporters at the White House , Trump said , “ I like Kanye very much ” but added : “ I have nothing to do with him being on the ballot .
I ’ m not involved.
” West himself has hinted he may be in the race to detract from Biden .
When an interviewer from Forbes suggested as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West responded , “ I ’ m not denying it.
” The Biden campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday .
Still , the former vice president enjoyed strong support among African American voters during the Democratic primary and is counting on topping Trump by wide margins with them , as well as young voters , in November .
Having West , who is Black and a hip-hop icon , on the ballot could be a ploy to hurt Biden with both sets of voters .
A third-party candidate with name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence a close election .
In Wisconsin in 2016 , there were 36,460 write-in votes for president — exceeding Trump ’ s statewide margin of victory of 22,748 , said David Jackson , a political science professor at Bowling Green State University whose research focuses on the links between young people ’ s entertainment and political preferences .
But African Americans tend not to vote for candidates solely because they are Black , while West ’ s status with Americans age 18 to 29 is actually more unfavorable than favorable , Jackson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he competes with Biden may not be able to peel many of their target voters away from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee .
“ It proves that people from the opposite party really know nothing about the appeal of the other party , ” Jackson said .
It ’ s also possible West could actually draw support away from Trump , since he ’ s been an outspoken supporter of the president in the past .
The Republicans involved include Lane Ruhland , a lawyer with longstanding ties to the Wisconsin Republican Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off signatures on West ’ s behalf to the election board there .
The Ohio attorney who filed a ballot access form on West ’ s behalf in that state , Matthew Aumann , an associate at a Columbus law firm that has been paid thousands of dollars in legal consulting fees by the state House and Senate Republican campaign committees , campaign finance records show .
West ’ s ballot paperwork in Arkansas lists as a point of contact Gregg Keller , the former executive director of the American Conservative Union .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a West elector despite previously being chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention .
West , meanwhile , missed qualifying for New Jersey ’ s ballot and also failed to file in South Carolina — despite holding a recent rally there where he railed against Harriet Tubman and sounded far from someone seriously preparing to seek the presidency .
• Last-minute deal seems to save Caltrain tax measure .
Will voters support it ?
• Politicizing COVID : Poll finds big gaps between Trump and Biden voters in support for reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide on new quarter-cent sales tax measure West has yet to make enough ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning the 270 Electoral College votes needed to clinch the White House .
That makes him ineligible for the part of the race where he might have the most visible effect , participating in debates , according to rules set by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates .
West has nonetheless insisted that his bid is serious .
But his wife , Kim Kardashian , has noted that he has been diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him compassion .
“ Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions , ” Kardashian posted on her Instagram Live feed .
Associated Press Writer Farnoush Amiri in Columbus , Ohio , and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report .

By Will Weissert | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Kanye West’s unlikely White House bid is getting help qualifying for presidential ballots in key states from Republicans around the country, fueling suspicions he’s being pushed to run by allies of President Donald Trump hoping to siphon support away from Joe Biden.
The rapper qualified for Colorado’s presidential ballot on Thursday, after the Secretary of State’s office verified that nine electors he submitted are all registered to vote in that state. One of those was Matthew Zielinski, is a former Republican congressional candidate who served as an officer with a county Republican Party in suburban Denver.
Zielinski tweeted that he believed in “fair ballot access” but declined further comment.
A similar pattern has played out in in Wisconsin, Ohio, Vermont and Arkansas, where lawyers or activists with GOP ties have been involved in securing the star’s place on the ballot. The successful effort in battleground states Wisconsin and Ohio in particular raised red flags for Democrats, who are braced for a close race and anxious about any third-party candidate drawing voters.
Trump’s reelection campaign has denied involvement, with spokesman Tim Murtaugh saying, “We have no knowledge of what Kanye West is doing or who is doing it for him.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I like Kanye very much” but added: “I have nothing to do with him being on the ballot. I’m not involved.”
West himself has hinted he may be in the race to detract from Biden. When an interviewer from Forbes suggested as much in a text message Thursday, West responded, “I’m not denying it.”
The Biden campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday. Still, the former vice president enjoyed strong support among African American voters during the Democratic primary and is counting on topping Trump by wide margins with them, as well as young voters, in November. Having West, who is Black and a hip-hop icon, on the ballot could be a ploy to hurt Biden with both sets of voters.
A third-party candidate with name recognition as high as West could undoubtedly influence a close election. In Wisconsin in 2016, there were 36,460 write-in votes for president — exceeding Trump’s statewide margin of victory of 22,748, said David Jackson, a political science professor at Bowling Green State University whose research focuses on the links between young people’s entertainment and political preferences.
But African Americans tend not to vote for candidates solely because they are Black, while West’s status with Americans age 18 to 29 is actually more unfavorable than favorable, Jackson said. That means Republicans working to ensure he competes with Biden may not be able to peel many of their target voters away from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
“It proves that people from the opposite party really know nothing about the appeal of the other party,” Jackson said.
It’s also possible West could actually draw support away from Trump, since he’s been an outspoken supporter of the president in the past.
The Republicans involved include Lane Ruhland, a lawyer with longstanding ties to the Wisconsin Republican Party, who was captured on video dropping off signatures on West’s behalf to the election board there. The Ohio attorney who filed a ballot access form on West’s behalf in that state, Matthew Aumann, an associate at a Columbus law firm that has been paid thousands of dollars in legal consulting fees by the state House and Senate Republican campaign committees, campaign finance records show.
West’s ballot paperwork in Arkansas lists as a point of contact Gregg Keller, the former executive director of the American Conservative Union. In Vermont, Charles H. Wilton is a West elector despite previously being chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
West, meanwhile, missed qualifying for New Jersey’s ballot and also failed to file in South Carolina — despite holding a recent rally there where he railed against Harriet Tubman and sounded far from someone seriously preparing to seek the presidency.
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West has nonetheless insisted that his bid is serious. But his wife, Kim Kardashian, has noted that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and asked the public show him compassion.
“Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words some times do not align with his intentions,” Kardashian posted on her Instagram Live feed.
Associated Press Writer Farnoush Amiri in Columbus, Ohio, and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Doctored videos of Beirut explosion already circulating

Doctored videos of Tuesday ’ s devastating explosion in Beirut are already circulating on every major social media platform .
In videos originally shot by both CNN and eyewitnesses in the Lebanese capital , footage of a rising smoke plume at Beirut Port was inverted and made to look like a “ negative.
” In addition , a missile-like object was superimposed on the video .
Some of the manipulated footage was taken from the Facebook page of Beirut-based , CNN Arabic social media producer Mehsen Mekhtfe .
He had captured the explosion while walking near the port — something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of day .
“ Many people reached out to me to tell me that it ’ s fake , ” Mekhtfe told CNN , referring to the fake missile video .
“ But it ’ s my video and I have the original and it doesn ’ t show that .
When people ask me about it , I tell them , the doctored one is not true.
” “ I can emphasize that I didn ’ t see any missile and didn ’ t hear any jet or drone above me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s team in Abu Dhabi was first to spot the footage , and immediately recognized it had been doctored .
The manipulated footage can be found on every major social media platform : Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and TikTok .
Some of the videos on Facebook had a “ false information ” warning , including one that had over 1,500 shares .
Others did not bear that warning , including one with over 8,400 views .
CNN reached out to the social media companies for comment on the doctored videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TikTok and YouTube .
“ As soon as we became aware of this video it was removed for violating our policy on misleading content , ” a TikTok spokesperson told CNN .
“ Prior to removal , the video had already been automatically flagged by our system , limiting its reach on our platform .
Our hearts go out to the people of Beirut during this difficult time.
” • Twitter and Facebook become targets in Trump and Biden ads • SF tech CEO who verbally attacked Asian-American diners in Carmel Valley has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for violating our Community Guidelines and re-uploads of the original clip if they contain segments that we deem to be violative of YouTube ’ s Community Guidelines , ” Farshad Shadloo , YouTube ’ s head of Policy Communications told CNN in an email .
When CNN reached out to the individual credited with creating the doctored video for comment , they responded , “ someone or somebody hated me so much to put my email on a fake video .
”

By Paul P. Murphy | CNN
Doctored videos of Tuesday’s devastating explosion in Beirut are already circulating on every major social media platform.
In videos originally shot by both CNN and eyewitnesses in the Lebanese capital, footage of a rising smoke plume at Beirut Port was inverted and made to look like a “negative.” In addition, a missile-like object was superimposed on the video.
Some of the manipulated footage was taken from the Facebook page of Beirut-based, CNN Arabic social media producer Mehsen Mekhtfe. He had captured the explosion while walking near the port — something that he does frequently during that time of day.
“Many people reached out to me to tell me that it’s fake,” Mekhtfe told CNN, referring to the fake missile video. “But it’s my video and I have the original and it doesn’t show that. When people ask me about it, I tell them, the doctored one is not true.”
“I can emphasize that I didn’t see any missile and didn’t hear any jet or drone above me,” he added.
CNN Arabic’s team in Abu Dhabi was first to spot the footage, and immediately recognized it had been doctored.
The manipulated footage can be found on every major social media platform: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.
Some of the videos on Facebook had a “false information” warning, including one that had over 1,500 shares. Others did not bear that warning, including one with over 8,400 views.
CNN reached out to the social media companies for comment on the doctored videos but has only received a response from TikTok and YouTube.
“As soon as we became aware of this video it was removed for violating our policy on misleading content,” a TikTok spokesperson told CNN. “Prior to removal, the video had already been automatically flagged by our system, limiting its reach on our platform. Our hearts go out to the people of Beirut during this difficult time.”
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When CNN reached out to the individual credited with creating the doctored video for comment, they responded, “someone or somebody hated me so much to put my email on a fake video.”
Related video:
[vemba-video id=”world/2020/08/05/beirut-explosion-wedding-video-zw-orig.cnn”]


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Kurtenbach: Harding Park’s PGA Championship makes it clear — fans can’t come back soon enough

SAN FRANCISCO — On behalf of the players , the sponsors , and myself : We miss you fans .
The first round of the 2020 PGA Championship was held Thursday at TPC Harding Park with no counted attendance , a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Normally a major championship like this would bring out crowds that stack 10 , 20-people deep along the ropes that line the course , separating golfers from the gallery .
But Thursday , the only people who were allowed at San Francisco ’ s municipal gem were a small spattering of media and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travels with every big tournament .
Yes , it was unfathomably cool to be inside “ the bubble ” , to see these guys — who are so much better than me at this sport I might as well quit out of shame — dominate the same course I attempt to break 100 at a few times a year .
It was also a profoundly eerie experience .
I followed the big-ticket threesome of Justin Thomas , Rory McIlroy , and Tiger Woods for six holes Thursday .
Those are three of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elite of the elite .
Woods is arguably the best golfer to ever live — a player whose pull is larger than the sport itself .
And I ’ ve spent enough time in this media game to know that there ’ s always a sea of people — thousands of adoring fans — that follow Woods from the driving range to the practice green all the way through his round .
Add in two other big names to the playing group and you ’ d have a tsunami of activity .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few other people .
It all felt off .
It took away from the magnitude of the tournament .
“ Well , that ’ s our new norm , ” Woods , who shot a 2-under-par 68 , said .
“ It ’ s just the way it is .
This is [ how it ’ s ] going to be for a while.
” “ The energy is different .
You ’ re not going to have as many distractions out there , as well .
There ’ s really no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear the crowd noises .
It ’ s just different .
That ’ s probably the only way to say it.
” There was so little action around the course that I almost kicked Max Homa ’ s ball , which he pulled into the rough off the first tee a moment before I reached the No .
2 tee box .
Luckily , I avoided making his bad situation worse , but I let Homa , who finished the round with a 4-over-par 74 , know that his recovery shot — which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save — was impressive .
What could I do ?
He was right there .
Otherwise , it was so quiet .
The sometimes rowdy public course turned into a super-exclusive private club Thursday .
And following that biggest threesome of the day , in the middle of the 163-acre course , during the first major of the year , I was able to hear traffic from Lake Merced and Skyline Boulevards .
Instead of roars for a leaderboard change or a big birdie putt , the soundtrack of the first round was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clatter of spikes against concrete , gas generators powering the cameras , and the public address announcers telling no one in particular who was starting their rounds and their hometowns .
We didn ’ t even get a heckle when Bryson DeChambeau , who deliberately put on 40 pounds during golf ’ s hiatus , broke his driver on No .
7 after leaning on it to pick up his tee .
Oh , what I would have paid to hear what a paying customer , a few Michelob Ultras deep , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually miss playing in front of fans because you obviously work off that , especially in a major championship , ” Jason Day said after his 5-under-par round , which made him the leader in the clubhouse Thursday .
“ You work off that energy .
Usually , it ’ s buzzing , and it happens from Monday all the way through to Sunday .
… And today , we ’ re used to it by now , but it ’ s still not the same .
I know that we are playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major championship .
It ’ s the first one of the year .
It ’ s still just not the same.
” “ You can definitely feel the difference in intensity … it just doesn ’ t feel right.
” Even the golfers were subdued .
The PGA Championship is a big tournament , so players were going to be a bit more locked in on the course , and outside of a few exclamations after bad strikes , there wasn ’ t much chatter .
Most golfers were using their “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we weren ’ t outside .
Heaven forbid anyone who was around them overhearing something interesting .
The PGA encouraged volunteers to clap after a nice shot to create some atmosphere , but the church-like environment at the church of golf was so subdued that there were periods of time where those volunteers clearly forgot about the directive .
There was one place where some fans could grab a peek at these great golfers and cheer them on : the fence along the 12th hole .
With a few well-placed cuts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans could observe some tee shots and let the golfers know what they thought .
For now , it will have to do .
At least the tournament is being played .
But I can ’ t wait until we can do this again — a big tournament at a great course , with hopefully a repeat of Thursday ’ s suprisingly great weather — the right way .
And that means that fans can join us for the festivities .

SAN FRANCISCO — Hundreds of thousands of golf fans were watching Thursday, but not one of them was on the course at TPC Harding Park.
The first round of the PGA Championship, one of golf’s four major tournaments, typically would bring throngs of fans to the course. They would be stacked 10-deep, maybe 20-deep, alongside the fairway ropes that separate the golfers from the gallery.
But these aren’t typical times. In the era of Covid, the only people at the tournament, let alone on the course, was a smattering of media and volunteers and the requisite entourage that travels with every big tournament.
For everyone else, it was TV or nothing.
It was cool to be inside the bubble, to watch these professionals dominate the same course I attempt to break 100 at a few times a year.
It was also profoundly eerie. So on behalf of the players, staff, and media, may I just say: we miss you fans.
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Kurtenbach: What’d I miss? A summer’s worth of takes on the Warriors, Giants, Niners, and Pac-12 Sports Columnists | Kurtenbach: The 49ers should trade Trey Lance. It’s what’s best for the player and team I followed the big-ticket threesome of Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods for six holes Thursday. Those are three of the greatest golfers in the world. Woods is arguably the best golfer to ever live — a player whose pull is larger than the sport itself.
Over the years covering a tournament or two, I’ve spent enough time trailing Woods to know that there’s always a sea of people — thousands of adoring fans — that follows him from the driving range to the practice green all the way through his round. Add two other big names, such as McIlroy and Thomas, and it would be a madhouse.
Thursday, it was me and a few other people.
There was so little going on, I had a moment with Max Homa, who joined the tour in 2013 after playing for Cal and winning the NCAA tournament. Homa had hit into the rough off the first tee. I saw his ball up close on my way to the second tee. It was in a tough spot. So when he saved par, I personally acknowledged his impressive recovery shot.
Did I break golf (and media) protocol? Maybe. What could I do? He was standing right there and it was a nice shot.
The sometimes-rowdy public course turned into a super-exclusive private club Thursday. And following that biggest threesome of the day, in the middle of the 163-acre course, during the first major of the year, I was able to hear traffic from Lake Merced and Skyline Boulevards.
Instead of roars for a leaderboard change or a big birdie putt, the soundtrack of the first round was the echoing ping of drivers, the clatter of spikes against concrete, gas generators powering the TV cameras, and the public address announcers telling no one in particular who was starting their rounds and their hometowns.
We didn’t even get a heckle when Bryson DeChambeau, while picking up a tee, broke his driver by leaning on it with the additional 40 pounds he deliberately put on during the hiatus. What I would have paid to hear what a paying customer — a few Michelob Ultras deep — would have said about that.
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Kurtenbach: What’d I miss? A summer’s worth of takes on the Warriors, Giants, Niners, and Pac-12 Sports Columnists | Kurtenbach: The 49ers should trade Trey Lance. It’s what’s best for the player and team “I actually miss playing in front of fans because you obviously work off that, especially in a major championship,” Jason Day said after his five-under-par round. “You work off that energy. Usually, it’s buzzing, and it happens from Monday all the way through to Sunday.
“And today, we’re used to it by now, but it’s still not the same. I know that we are playing the PGA Championship. It’s a major championship. It’s the first one of the year. It’s still just not the same… You can definitely feel the difference in intensity… it just doesn’t feel right.”
Even the golfers were subdued. Outside of a few exclamations after bad strikes, there wasn’t much chatter. Most golfers were using their “indoor voices” as if we weren’t outside.
“Well, that’s our new norm,” said Tiger Woods, who shot a two-under-par 68. “It’s just the way it is. This is [how it’s] going to be for a while.
“The energy is different. You’re not going to have as many distractions out there, as well. There’s really no one moving around. You don’t hear the crowd noises. It’s just different. That’s probably the only way to say it.”
The atmosphere was so dreary that the PGA encouraged volunteers to clap after a nice shot to create some sort of energy, but there were times when those volunteers clearly forgot about the directive.
There was one place on the course where fans could get a peek without ESPN. On the fence along the 12th hole, with a few well-placed cuts in the covering, a handful of fans could observe the tee shots.
For now, it will have to do.


mercurynews--2020-08-06--UW coronavirus forecast predicts 300,000 US death by Dec. 1

WASHINGTON – Nearly 300,000 Americans could be dead from COVID-19 by Dec. 1 , University of Washington health experts forecast on Thursday , although they said 70,000 lives could be saved if people were scrupulous about wearing masks .
The prediction by the university ’ s widely cited Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation comes as top White House infectious disease advisors warned that major U.S. cities could erupt as new hot spots if officials there were not vigilant with counter-measures .
“ We ’ re seeing a rollercoaster in the United States .
It appears that people are wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections increase , then after a while as infections drop , people let their guard down , ” Dr. Christopher Murray , director of the IHME said in announcing the university ’ s latest forecast .
The U.S. death toll stands at over 159,000 , the most of any country in the world , with 4.8 million known cases .
The IHME said infections were falling in former epicenters of Arizona , California , Florida , and Texas , but rising in Colorado , Idaho , Kansas , Kentucky , Mississippi , Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Virginia .
Those findings are consistent with Reuters tallies .
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine , a Republican , on Thursday said he had tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump , but had experienced no symptoms of the illness .
Tennessee and North Carolina reported record single-day increases in deaths on Thursday with 42 and 73 , respectively .
The U.S. outbreak , once centered around densely populated New York City , has since infected communities from coast to coast .
Experts believe that spread has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel .
“ This is a predictor of trouble ahead , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious diseases official , told CNN on Thursday .
Fauci was speaking after the White House coronavirus task force coordinator , Dr. Deborah Birx , identified new areas of concern during a telephone call with state and local officials on Wednesday .
Baltimore and Atlanta remain at a “ very high level , ” as well as Kansas City , Portland , Omaha and California ’ s Central Valley , Birx said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was obtained by the journalism nonprofit Center for Public Integrity .
White House data shows small increases in the percentage of positive tests in Chicago , Boston , Detroit and Washington .
On the positive side , medical professionals have a better understanding of what they are dealing with , said Dr. Khalilah Gates , a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago .
“ We don ’ t know all of it , but it ’ s not the fear of the unknown anymore , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local authorities to re-open public schools for in-person learning and Fauci has said children should be sent back to class as soon as possible .
But many school districts nationwide , including two of the largest , Los Angeles and Chicago , have opted for online instruction .
In rural Mississippi ’ s Corinth school district , where schools opened two weeks ago , five COVID-19 infections forced some students and teachers into quarantine , Superintendent Edward Lee Childress said on Facebook Live .
The decision to reopen schools took into account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be detected and contact tracing plans triggered , Childress said .
“ We ’ re going to have some more positive cases .
We know it will happen , ” he said .
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Although the number of Americans seeking jobless benefits fell last week , a staggering 31.3 million people were receiving unemployment checks in mid-July .
Other data on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts announced by employers in July .
The State Department on Thursday lifted an advisory from March that U.S. citizens should avoid all international travel due to the pandemic .
But American travelers are still restricted or banned in many parts of the world , including the European Union and Canada .

By Doina Chiacu and Rich McKay | Reuters
WASHINGTON – Nearly 300,000 Americans could be dead from COVID-19 by Dec. 1, University of Washington health experts forecast on Thursday, although they said 70,000 lives could be saved if people were scrupulous about wearing masks.
The prediction by the university’s widely cited Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation comes as top White House infectious disease advisors warned that major U.S. cities could erupt as new hot spots if officials there were not vigilant with counter-measures.
“We’re seeing a rollercoaster in the United States. It appears that people are wearing masks and socially distancing more frequently as infections increase, then after a while as infections drop, people let their guard down,” Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the IHME said in announcing the university’s latest forecast.
The U.S. death toll stands at over 159,000, the most of any country in the world, with 4.8 million known cases.
The IHME said infections were falling in former epicenters of Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, but rising in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Virginia. Those findings are consistent with Reuters tallies.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, on Thursday said he had tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of a planned meeting with President Donald Trump, but had experienced no symptoms of the illness.
Tennessee and North Carolina reported record single-day increases in deaths on Thursday with 42 and 73, respectively.
“Trouble ahead”
The U.S. outbreak, once centered around densely populated New York City, has since infected communities from coast to coast. Experts believe that spread has been driven in part by summer vacation travel.
“This is a predictor of trouble ahead,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases official, told CNN on Thursday.
Fauci was speaking after the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, identified new areas of concern during a telephone call with state and local officials on Wednesday.
Baltimore and Atlanta remain at a “very high level,” as well as Kansas City, Portland, Omaha and California’s Central Valley, Birx said on the call, a recording of which was obtained by the journalism nonprofit Center for Public Integrity.
White House data shows small increases in the percentage of positive tests in Chicago, Boston, Detroit and Washington.
On the positive side, medical professionals have a better understanding of what they are dealing with, said Dr. Khalilah Gates, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
“We don’t know all of it, but it’s not the fear of the unknown anymore,” she told Reuters.
Trump has urged state and local authorities to re-open public schools for in-person learning and Fauci has said children should be sent back to class as soon as possible.
But many school districts nationwide, including two of the largest, Los Angeles and Chicago, have opted for online instruction.
In rural Mississippi’s Corinth school district, where schools opened two weeks ago, five COVID-19 infections forced some students and teachers into quarantine, Superintendent Edward Lee Childress said on Facebook Live.
The decision to reopen schools took into account the “inevitable moment” that COVID-19 would be detected and contact tracing plans triggered, Childress said.
“We’re going to have some more positive cases. We know it will happen,” he said.
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