mercurynews--2020-12-19--FDA clears Moderna vaccine for COVID-19

FDA clears Moderna vaccine for COVID-19

By Lauran Neergaard and Matthew Perrone | Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday , boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day .
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health .
The move marks the world ’ s first authorization for Moderna ’ s shots .
The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up .
The two work “ better than we almost dared to hope , ” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press .
“ Science is working here , science has done something amazing.
” Early results of large , still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna ’ s is easier to handle since it doesn ’ t need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A second vaccine represents a ray of hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated even before holiday gatherings that are certain to further fuel the outbreak .
The scourge has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide .
New cases in the U.S. are running at over 216,000 per day on average .
Deaths per day have hit all-time highs , eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday .
California has emerged as one of the most lethal hot spots , with hospitals running out of intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms in scenes reminiscent of the calamity around New York City last spring .
California on Friday reported over 41,000 new cases and 300 more deaths .
When New York ’ s hospitals were in crisis , health care workers from across the country came to help out .
This time , “ there ’ s no cavalry coming ” because so many hospitals are swamped , said Dr. Marc Futernick , an emergency room physician in Los Angeles .
The nation is scrambling to expand vaccinations as rapidly as Moderna and Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s is for people 18 and older , Pfizer ’ s starts at age 16 .
It ’ s just the beginning of “ what we hope will be a big push to get this terrible virus behind us , although it will take many more months to get to all Americans , ” Collins said .
Moderna expects to have between 100 million and 125 million doses available globally in the first three months of 2021 , with 85-100 million of those available in the U.S .
Even with additional candidates in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be enough for the general population until spring , and shots will be rationed in the meantime .
And while health workers are enthusiastically embracing vaccination , authorities worry the public may need more reassurance to ensure more people get in line when it ’ s their turn .
“ Frankly if we don ’ t succeed in getting 80 % or so of Americans immunized against COVID-19 by the middle of this 2021 year , we have the risk that this epidemic could go on and on and on , ” Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate information about the shots ’ value reaches communities of color , which have been hard-hit by COVID-19 yet also are wary after years of health care disparities and research abuses .
To try to help instill confidence , Vice President Mike Pence received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot on live TV Friday , along with Surgeon General Jerome Adams .
FDA ’ s decision could help pave the way for other countries that are considering the Moderna vaccine , the first-ever regulatory clearance for the small Cambridge , Massachusetts , company .
European regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 6 .
Britain , Canada and a few other countries already have cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech shot , with a European Union decision due Monday .
“ What we want to always remember is one size does not fit all .
We want to have options , ” said Dr. Paul Duprex of the University of Pittsburgh .
Moderna has about 5.9 million doses ready for shipment set to begin over the weekend , according to Operation Warp Speed , the government ’ s vaccine development program .
Injections of health workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before other essential workers and vulnerable groups are allowed to get in line .
Both Moderna ’ s and Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s shots are so-called mRNA vaccines , made with a groundbreaking new technology .
They don ’ t contain any coronavirus – meaning they can not cause infection .
Instead , they use a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus , ready to attack if the real thing comes along .
Their development less than a year after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record , but Collins stressed that shouldn ’ t worry people .
The speed was due to billions in company and government investments paired with years of earlier scientific research , not any cut corners .
“ The rigor of the analysis of these vaccines is unprecedented , ” Collins said .
“ We ’ re not done with this but hope is on the way , and the hope comes from this scientific brain trust that has pulled out all the stops.
” Experts are hoping the two vaccines together will “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when combined with masks and other precautions , said Dr. Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan , who chaired an advisory committee that publicly debated the shots ’ evidence ahead of FDA ’ s decisions .
–Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart .
The second dose must be from the same company as the first .
–In a study of 30,000 volunteers , the Moderna vaccine was more than 94 % effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are most vulnerable .
–The inoculated can ’ t throw away their masks as it ’ s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent , symptomless virus spread .
But there was a hint that Moderna ’ s shot might provide some protection against asymptomatic infection .
–The Moderna study uncovered no major safety problems .
Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot , expect sore arms , fever , fatigue and muscle aches , which are signs the immune system is revving up .
• How COVID-19 vaccines could spur the fight against other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive-care capacity reaches 0 % ?
• FEMA to fund California ’ s Project Roomkey hotels until COVID crisis ends , Newsom says • Coronavirus vaccines are proven to prevent disease , but what about transmission ?
–Both vaccines carry “ a remote chance ” of causing a severe allergic reaction .
Moderna ’ s study turned up none of these , though a handful were reported in Britain and Alaska as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations got underway .
The vaccines ’ ingredients aren ’ t identical .
Still , after any COVID-19 vaccination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes – or 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies – so if they do have a reaction , it can be treated immediately .
–Both vaccines remain experimental , and the government is closely monitoring safety in case rare problems crop up .
–Additional studies are needed to tell if the vaccine should be used by pregnant women and children .
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss whether to get the vaccine with their doctor .
Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed to this report from Orange @ @ @ @

By Lauran Neergaard and Matthew Perrone | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day.
Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.
The move marks the world’s first authorization for Moderna’s shots. The vaccine is very similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that’s now being dispensed to millions of health care workers and nursing home residents as the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history starts to ramp up.
The two work “better than we almost dared to hope,” NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins told The Associated Press. “Science is working here, science has done something amazing.”
Early results of large, still unfinished studies show both vaccines appear safe and strongly protective although Moderna’s is easier to handle since it doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures.
A second vaccine represents a ray of hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated even before holiday gatherings that are certain to further fuel the outbreak.
The scourge has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide. New cases in the U.S. are running at over 216,000 per day on average. Deaths per day have hit all-time highs, eclipsing 3,600 on Wednesday.
California has emerged as one of the most lethal hot spots, with hospitals running out of intensive care beds and ambulances lining up outside emergency rooms in scenes reminiscent of the calamity around New York City last spring. California on Friday reported over 41,000 new cases and 300 more deaths.
When New York’s hospitals were in crisis, health care workers from across the country came to help out. This time, “there’s no cavalry coming” because so many hospitals are swamped, said Dr. Marc Futernick, an emergency room physician in Los Angeles.
The nation is scrambling to expand vaccinations as rapidly as Moderna and Pfizer can churn out doses. Moderna’s is for people 18 and older, Pfizer’s starts at age 16.
It’s just the beginning of “what we hope will be a big push to get this terrible virus behind us, although it will take many more months to get to all Americans,” Collins said.
Moderna expects to have between 100 million and 125 million doses available globally in the first three months of 2021, with 85-100 million of those available in the U.S.
Even with additional candidates in the pipeline, there won’t be enough for the general population until spring, and shots will be rationed in the meantime. And while health workers are enthusiastically embracing vaccination, authorities worry the public may need more reassurance to ensure more people get in line when it’s their turn.
“Frankly if we don’t succeed in getting 80% or so of Americans immunized against COVID-19 by the middle of this 2021 year, we have the risk that this epidemic could go on and on and on,” Collins said.
He is especially concerned that accurate information about the shots’ value reaches communities of color, which have been hard-hit by COVID-19 yet also are wary after years of health care disparities and research abuses.
To try to help instill confidence, Vice President Mike Pence received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot on live TV Friday, along with Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
FDA’s decision could help pave the way for other countries that are considering the Moderna vaccine, the first-ever regulatory clearance for the small Cambridge, Massachusetts, company. European regulators could authorize its use as soon as Jan. 6. Britain, Canada and a few other countries already have cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, with a European Union decision due Monday.
“What we want to always remember is one size does not fit all. We want to have options,” said Dr. Paul Duprex of the University of Pittsburgh.
Moderna has about 5.9 million doses ready for shipment set to begin over the weekend, according to Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine development program. Injections of health workers and nursing home residents continue next week, before other essential workers and vulnerable groups are allowed to get in line.
Both Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s shots are so-called mRNA vaccines, made with a groundbreaking new technology. They don’t contain any coronavirus – meaning they cannot cause infection. Instead, they use a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus, ready to attack if the real thing comes along.
Their development less than a year after the coronavirus first emerged set a speed record, but Collins stressed that shouldn’t worry people. The speed was due to billions in company and government investments paired with years of earlier scientific research, not any cut corners.
“The rigor of the analysis of these vaccines is unprecedented,” Collins said. “We’re not done with this but hope is on the way, and the hope comes from this scientific brain trust that has pulled out all the stops.”
Experts are hoping the two vaccines together will “break the back of the pandemic” when combined with masks and other precautions, said Dr. Arnold Monto of the University of Michigan, who chaired an advisory committee that publicly debated the shots’ evidence ahead of FDA’s decisions.
The FDA’s main messages:
–Both the new Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first.
–In a study of 30,000 volunteers, the Moderna vaccine was more than 94% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people 18 and older. It also strongly protected older adults, who are most vulnerable.
–The inoculated can’t throw away their masks as it’s not yet clear either vaccine prevents silent, symptomless virus spread. But there was a hint that Moderna’s shot might provide some protection against asymptomatic infection.
–The Moderna study uncovered no major safety problems. Like with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, expect sore arms, fever, fatigue and muscle aches, which are signs the immune system is revving up.
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College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds National News | One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining
One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining National News | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
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 –Both vaccines carry “a remote chance” of causing a severe allergic reaction. Moderna’s study turned up none of these, though a handful were reported in Britain and Alaska as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations got underway. The vaccines’ ingredients aren’t identical. Still, after any COVID-19 vaccination, people should stick around for 15 minutes – or 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies – so if they do have a reaction, it can be treated immediately.
–Both vaccines remain experimental, and the government is closely monitoring safety in case rare problems crop up.
–Additional studies are needed to tell if the vaccine should be used by pregnant women and children. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss whether to get the vaccine with their doctor.
Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed to this report from Orange County, California.


mercurynews--2020-12-19--How COVID-19 vaccine strategy could combat other diseases

The dream of using gene-based vaccines to fight disease has been around for decades .
But the stunning success of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 provides real-world proof that this approach , enlisting so-called messenger RNA ( mRNA ) , can combat an actual outbreak — and boosts hope that it can also combat other deadly infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika virus and even cancer or autoimmune disorders .
“ This is definitely not a ‘ one off.
’ It ’ s a proof of principle that will be applied in many different ways , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levy , who is enlisting mRNA to trigger the body ’ s immune cells to seek out and fight cancer cells .
On Friday , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the second mRNA vaccine against the deadly COVID-19 virus , expanding supplies for the nation ’ s historic mass vaccination campaign .
This Moderna vaccine , like the Pfizer vaccine , appears safe and is highly effective .
Early next week , California will start receiving its 1.5 million dose allotment of the Moderna vaccine , in addition to another 233,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine is a 40 % reduction from what was expected and will reduce supplies at county health departments , hospitals and skilled nursing facilities .
The main goal of any vaccine is to teach the immune system what a pathogen looks like .
Once educated , the immune system can vigorously attack the enemy if it enters the body .
In the case of cancer , it can be spurred to more vigorously fight an existing threat .
Some traditional vaccines use weakened virus , while others use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ spiky protein coat .
Both methods trigger antibody production to fight the virus .
But those approaches take time .
And they can ’ t be quickly modified if the virus changes .
About 30 years ago , a handful of scientists began exploring a different approach .
Simpler and faster , the process uses a virus ’ s genetic instructions , called mRNA , to trick the cell into creating a piece of the virus ’ protein coat .
When the mRNA vaccine is injected into your arm , it travels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by your body ’ s immune cells , which then make the viral spike protein and mobilizes an immune response .
It ’ s not dangerous ; the mRNA is just a sliver of viral genetic material .
The viral spike protein that it produces is noninfectious .
Compared to traditional vaccines , these mRNA vaccines can generate a stronger immunity .
They not only stimulate the immune system to make protective antibodies but also trigger production of immune system “ killer cells ” that destroy the virus .
That ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick to build .
It ’ s relatively easy to make large amounts of mRNA in the laboratory .
And they ’ re versatile .
The platform could potentially be used to create a vaccine for other diseases , simply by inserting the right mRNA sequence for that disease .
While the concept seems simple , it required decades of work for mRNA vaccines to overcome a series of hurdles , said virologist and immunologist Dr. Jay Levy of UC San Francisco , co-discoverer of the AIDS virus .
“ This is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mRNA is put into practice .
And it seems to work , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a platform .
The same platform can be used for other vaccines.
” Now , of the 90 research groups worldwide working to develop COVID-19 vaccines , about 20 of them are working on gene-based vaccines , according to Dr. Joel Ernst , Chief of the Division of Experimental Medicine at UCSF .
But there are hurdles .
Scientists need to understand the structure of mRNA and how it works to produce a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly breaking down in the body , so it must be protected .
It has to be delivered to the right cells .
“ But once those things were figured out for these ( COVID-19 ) vaccines , they ’ re going to be used for all kinds of other problems , ” Stanford ’ s Levy said .
The next big win for this platform could be better vaccines for seasonal flu , which kills as many as 650,000 people each year , say experts .
The strengths of mRNA vaccines — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much better match against the fast-changing influenza virus than conventional vaccines .
“ There ’ s a pretty good chance that your seasonal flu shots starting in 2022 will be mRNA vaccines , ” said Rhiju Das , a computational biochemist at Stanford University whose lab studies how the structure and folding of mRNA drives its function .
Already , such vaccines are being tested for other infectious agents , such as Ebola and Zika virus .
They ’ re also under study for use against viruses that cause chronic infections and defy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and respiratory syncytial virus .
In cancer , the strategy is to find telltale proteins on a person ’ s tumor and design mRNA that spurs the immune cells to attack those cells , said Stanford ’ s Levy .
He is studying lymphoma and metastatic solid tumors .
To be sure , cancer is harder than infectious diseases , because the target is different for every patient ’ s cancer , he said .
It ’ s necessary to customize the vaccine for the patient .
And if patients already have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventing it .
Finally , cancer may have already developed defenses to evade the immune system .
Theoretically , mRNA technology could help combat autoimmune diseases , such as lupus .
“ Just as you can stimulate the immune system , you can dial it down , ” said Stanford ’ s Levy .
“ If you can make molecules in the body that trigger the immune system to go faster , you can also make molecules that put the brakes on.
” It could also be used to ramp up production of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as cystic fibrosis .
There remain major technical challenges .
The mRNA is very fragile .
In addition , the oily spheres that hold the mRNA are unstable .
This means worldwide protection against COVID-19 — or any other disease — is bottlenecked by the difficulty of distribution , said Das .
Das is finding ways to stabilize these molecules so they can go into prefilled syringes at the factory and never be frozen .
“ To end this pandemic , we ’ ve got to vaccinate everyone , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in vaccinating , say , rich countries like the U.S. , the virus will still be out there evolving and come back to infect everyone .
Success could mean accelerating the end of the worldwide pandemic by months.
” If perfected , he said , “ they can be distributed like flu shots or animal vaccines , just under refrigeration , and reach the entire world .
”

The dream of using gene-based vaccines to fight disease has been around for decades.
But the stunning success of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 provides real-world proof that this approach, enlisting so-called messenger RNA (mRNA), can combat an actual outbreak — and boosts hope that it can also combat other deadly infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika virus and even cancer or autoimmune disorders.
“This is definitely not a ‘one off.’ It’s a proof of principle that will be applied in many different ways,” said Stanford immunologist and oncologist Dr. Ronald Levy, who is enlisting mRNA to trigger the body’s immune cells to seek out and fight cancer cells.
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the second mRNA vaccine against the deadly COVID-19 virus, expanding supplies for the nation’s historic mass vaccination campaign. This Moderna vaccine, like the Pfizer vaccine, appears safe and is highly effective.
Early next week, California will start receiving its 1.5 million dose allotment of the Moderna vaccine, in addition to another 233,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine is a 40% reduction from what was expected and will reduce supplies at county health departments, hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
The main goal of any vaccine is to teach the immune system what a pathogen looks like. Once educated, the immune system can vigorously attack the enemy if it enters the body. In the case of cancer, it can be spurred to more vigorously fight an existing threat.
Some traditional vaccines use weakened virus, while others use just a critical piece of a virus’ spiky protein coat. Both methods trigger antibody production to fight the virus. But those approaches take time. And they can’t be quickly modified if the virus changes.
About 30 years ago, a handful of scientists began exploring a different approach. Simpler and faster, the process uses a virus’s genetic instructions, called mRNA, to trick the cell into creating a piece of the virus’ protein coat.
“Messenger RNA carries the message for production of that protein,” said virologist and immunologist Dr. Jay Levy of UC San Francisco, co-discoverer of the AIDS virus.
When the mRNA vaccine is injected into your arm, it is absorbed by muscle cells which produce many copies of the spike protein, which are then recognized by the immune system. The immune system is then poised to fend off any future viral attack. The mRNA is not dangerous; it’s just a sliver of viral genetic material. The viral spike protein that it produces is noninfectious.
Compared to traditional vaccines, these mRNA vaccines can generate a stronger immunity. They not only stimulate the immune system to make protective antibodies but also trigger production of immune system “killer cells” that destroy the virus. That’s a double strike.
They’re lightning quick to build. It’s relatively easy to make large amounts of mRNA in the laboratory. And they’re versatile. The platform could potentially be used to create a vaccine for other diseases, simply by inserting the right mRNA sequence for that disease.
While the concept seems simple, it required decades of work for mRNA vaccines to overcome a series of hurdles, said UCSF’s Levy.
“This is the first time that the idea of taking mRNA is put into practice. And it seems to work,” he said. “It’s a platform. The same platform can be used for other vaccines.”
Now, of the 90 research groups worldwide working to develop COVID-19 vaccines, about 20 of them are working on gene-based vaccines, according to Dr. Joel Ernst, Chief of the Division of Experimental Medicine at UCSF.
But there are hurdles. Scientists need to understand the structure of mRNA and how it works to produce a protein, and mRNA is unstable, quickly breaking down in the body, so it must be protected. It has to be delivered to the right cells.
“But once those things were figured out for these (COVID-19) vaccines, they’re going to be used for all kinds of other problems,” Stanford’s Levy said.
The next big win for this platform could be better vaccines for seasonal flu, which kills as many as 650,000 people each year, say experts. The strengths of mRNA vaccines — speed and accuracy — could be a much better match against the fast-changing influenza virus than conventional vaccines.
“There’s a pretty good chance that your seasonal flu shots starting in 2022 will be mRNA vaccines,” said Rhiju Das, a computational biochemist at Stanford University whose lab studies how the structure and folding of mRNA drives its function.
Already, such vaccines are being tested for other infectious agents, such as Ebola and Zika virus. They’re also under study for use against viruses that cause chronic infections and defy conventional vaccines, such as herpes simplex virus and respiratory syncytial virus.
In cancer, the strategy is to find telltale proteins on a person’s tumor and design mRNA that spurs the immune cells to attack those cells, said Stanford’s Levy. If successful, this approach will allow patients to receive immunotherapies that are designed and synthesized for their specific cancer — truly personalized medicines. He is studying lymphoma and metastatic tumors.
To be sure, cancer is harder than infectious diseases, because the target is different for every patient’s cancer, he said. It’s necessary to customize the vaccine for the patient.
Theoretically, mRNA technology could also help combat autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
“Just as you can stimulate the immune system, you can dial it down,” said Stanford’s Levy. “If you can make molecules in the body that trigger the immune system to go faster, you can also make molecules that put the brakes on.”
It could also be used to ramp up production of proteins that are missing in certain diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.
There remain major technical challenges. The mRNA is very fragile. In addition, the oily spheres that hold the mRNA are unstable. This means worldwide protection against COVID-19 — or any other disease — is bottlenecked by the difficulty of distribution, said Das.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Das is finding ways to stabilize these molecules so they can go into prefilled syringes at the factory and never be frozen.
“To end this pandemic, we’ve got to vaccinate everyone,” he said. “If we only succeed in vaccinating, say, rich countries like the U.S., the virus will still be out there evolving and come back to infect everyone. Success could mean accelerating the end of the worldwide pandemic by months.”
If perfected, he said, “they can be distributed like flu shots or animal vaccines, just under refrigeration, and reach the entire world.”


mercurynews--2020-12-19--Coronavirus: What happens if intensive-care capacity reaches 0%?

Amid the worst pandemic in a century , the severity of “ 0 % ” needs no explanation .
We know California ’ s hospitals are in dire shape , as beds frantically fill across much of the Golden State during a record surge of COVID-19 infections , hospitalizations and deaths .
On Friday , just an alarming 2.1 % of the state ’ s intensive-care units were available , according to the state ’ s latest figures .
But what exactly will it mean if we fall to a dreaded zero ?
Hospitals in the Southern California and San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this past week , while ICU capacity slipped Friday in the Bay Area region from 13.1 % to 12.8 % .
But with the dynamics of patient loads , medical staffing and other factors frequently changing , even dropping to 0 % doesn ’ t mean no ICU care is available .
Patients who need critical care are not turned away or left unmonitored in the lobby or hallway .
But the quality of care begins to drop off , with doctors and nurses having to care for more patients than normal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity and stretch , exhaustion is real , ” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal , Santa Clara County ’ s COVID-19 Director of Health Care Preparedness .
“ The hospitals would definitely make sure every patient gets the best care possible .
Having exhausted staff is not the ideal way to provide care.
” On Friday , California continued shattering records , topping 50,000 new cases for the third consecutive day and more than 250 deaths for the fourth day in a row .
ICU capacity was thrust into California ’ s consciousness earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it the state ’ s newest metric for imposing the most restrictive curbs on business and activities to reduce spread of the coronavirus .
It refers to the number of staffed beds in hospital units that care for the most critically ill or injured , a figure that isn ’ t set in concrete and fluctuates daily .
Hospitals have some flexibility in reassigning staff , space and equipment .
Kamal said that Santa Clara County has been doing that , which is why its ICU capacity hasn ’ t changed much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — even as they see more and more patients needing that level of care .
“ We do that by converting non-ICU beds to ICU beds , ” Kamal said .
“ You need to have the equipment and the staffing , but there is some ability to do that.
” That flexibility , however , is limited — there are only so many doctors and nurses .
And not all the nurses are trained for intensive care .
Intensive care units normally run near capacity , and hospitals have “ surge ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of managing the pandemic , the state defines ICU capacity as the number of regular and surge ICU beds available , which hospitals report daily .
But it excludes those dedicated for pediatric and neonatal care .
ICUs still need to ensure care for other critical patients .
In Santa Clara County , COVID-19 patients occupy 37 % of ICU beds .
In Los Angeles County , 35 % of ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients .
Staffing levels are set by the state , which normally requires a nurse for every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waive that for emergency shortages due to the pandemic and allow one nurse for every three patients .
But the California Nurses Association earlier this week warned that allowing hospitals to lower nurse-to-patient staffing for the current COVID-19 surge will mean higher risk of infections and deaths for patients , nurses and other health care workers .
• How COVID-19 vaccines could spur the fight against other diseases • FEMA to fund California ’ s Project Roomkey hotels until COVID crisis ends , Newsom says • Coronavirus vaccines are proven to prevent disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heavier patient assignments sharply cut the time nurses can provide individualized patient care , properly monitor a patient ’ s condition and increase the likelihood of mistakes , as studies have documented for years , ” Zenei Cortez , a registered nurse and president of the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United , said in a statement .
Kamal said they haven ’ t had to do that in Santa Clara County — yet .
But if needed , hospitals could implement “ team-based nursing , ” he said , where an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse without that training to care for a larger number of patients .
“ That is not an ideal situation by any means , ” he said .
The state says it has some 3,000 additional beds available beyond what exists in hospitals , including 22 field hospitals that could be set up with 50 beds each , some of which are being deployed in Southern California .
There are also 11 “ alternative care sites ” that could be used on short notice .
Two are in the Bay Area — one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contra Costa County .
Neither have been activated yet , but together they could provide 375 beds .
Kamal said those types of facilities could be used for patients who don ’ t have COVID-19 and would be easier to care for in a remote setting .
The biggest limitation , Kamal said , is staffing .
Newsom has indicated the state has looked to hire nurses from overseas .
Some patients could potentially be transferred to different hospitals that have room .
But with the whole country and much of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in short supply .
That doesn ’ t mean patients wouldn ’ t be taken in and cared for .
It just means those caring for them might be overworked and exhausted .
“ It ’ s definitely the most challenging situation we ’ ve faced in the pandemic , ” Kamal said .
“ We ’ re hoping we can bend that curve so that not only are there hospital beds but the highest quality of nursing care for everyone .
”

Amid the worst pandemic in a century, the severity of “0%” needs no explanation.
We know California’s hospitals are in dire shape, as beds frantically fill across much of the Golden State during a record surge of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. On Friday, just an alarming 2.1% of the state’s intensive-care units were available, according to the state’s latest figures.
But what exactly will it mean if we fall to a dreaded zero?
Hospitals in the Southern California and San Joaquin Valley regions already reached that point this past week, while ICU capacity slipped Friday in the Bay Area region from 13.1% to 12.8%. But with the dynamics of patient loads, medical staffing and other factors frequently changing, even dropping to 0% doesn’t mean no ICU care is available.
Patients who need critical care are not turned away or left unmonitored in the lobby or hallway. But the quality of care begins to drop off, with doctors and nurses having to care for more patients than normal and getting overworked.
“As hospitals reach capacity and stretch, exhaustion is real,” said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 Director of Health Care Preparedness. “The hospitals would definitely make sure every patient gets the best care possible. Having exhausted staff is not the ideal way to provide care.”
On Friday, California continued shattering records, topping 50,000 new cases for the third consecutive day and more than 250 deaths for the fourth day in a row.
ICU capacity was thrust into California’s consciousness earlier this month when Gov. Gavin Newsom made it the state’s newest metric for imposing the most restrictive curbs on business and activities to reduce spread of the coronavirus.
It refers to the number of staffed beds in hospital units that care for the most critically ill or injured, a figure that isn’t set in concrete and fluctuates daily. Hospitals have some flexibility in reassigning staff, space and equipment. Kamal said that Santa Clara County has been doing that, which is why its ICU capacity hasn’t changed much — it’s now 13% — even as they see more and more patients needing that level of care.
“We do that by converting non-ICU beds to ICU beds,” Kamal said. “You need to have the equipment and the staffing, but there is some ability to do that.”
That flexibility, however, is limited — there are only so many doctors and nurses. And not all the nurses are trained for intensive care.
Intensive care units normally run near capacity, and hospitals have “surge” capacity to expand them. For purposes of managing the pandemic, the state defines ICU capacity as the number of regular and surge ICU beds available, which hospitals report daily.
But it excludes those dedicated for pediatric and neonatal care. ICUs still need to ensure care for other critical patients. In Santa Clara County, COVID-19 patients occupy 37% of ICU beds. In Los Angeles County, 35% of ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.
Staffing levels are set by the state, which normally requires a nurse for every two ICU patients. The state can waive that for emergency shortages due to the pandemic and allow one nurse for every three patients.
But the California Nurses Association earlier this week warned that allowing hospitals to lower nurse-to-patient staffing for the current COVID-19 surge will mean higher risk of infections and deaths for patients, nurses and other health care workers. Related Articles Health | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
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“Heavier patient assignments sharply cut the time nurses can provide individualized patient care, properly monitor a patient’s condition and increase the likelihood of mistakes, as studies have documented for years,” Zenei Cortez, a registered nurse and president of the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United, said in a statement.
Kamal said they haven’t had to do that in Santa Clara County — yet. But if needed, hospitals could implement “team-based nursing,” he said, where an ICU trained nurse is assisted by another nurse without that training to care for a larger number of patients. “That is not an ideal situation by any means,” he said.
The state says it has some 3,000 additional beds available beyond what exists in hospitals, including 22 field hospitals that could be set up with 50 beds each, some of which are being deployed in Southern California.
There are also 11 “alternative care sites” that could be used on short notice. Two are in the Bay Area — one in San Francisco and the other in Contra Costa County. Neither have been activated yet, but together they could provide 375 beds. Kamal said those types of facilities could be used for patients who don’t have COVID-19 and would be easier to care for in a remote setting.
The biggest limitation, Kamal said, is staffing. Newsom has indicated the state has looked to hire nurses from overseas. Some patients could potentially be transferred to different hospitals that have room. But with the whole country and much of the world battling a COVID-19 surge, nurses are in short supply.
That doesn’t mean patients wouldn’t be taken in and cared for. It just means those caring for them might be overworked and exhausted.
“It’s definitely the most challenging situation we’ve faced in the pandemic,” Kamal said. “We’re hoping we can bend that curve so that not only are there hospital beds but the highest quality of nursing care for everyone.”


mercurynews--2020-12-19--FEMA to fund California’s Project Roomkey hotels until COVID crisis ends, Newsom says

The federal government will continue paying into California ’ s Project Roomkey until the pandemic ends , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Friday , eliminating some uncertainty around the program and potentially buying more time for unhoused residents sheltering in hotels throughout the state .
Under Project Roomkey , FEMA had agreed to reimburse California counties for 75 % of the costs associated with putting homeless residents up in hotel rooms — but the counties had to reapply for the funding every month .
As the pandemic dragged on , some Bay Area officials worried the reimbursements would end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill for the rooms .
They began winding down their Roomkey programs , and attempting to move people from the hotels into long-term housing .
On Friday , Newsom turned that framework on its head with a letter to Project Roomkey providers .
FEMA will no longer require counties to reapply for funding once a month .
Instead , FEMA has authorized Project Roomkey reimbursements until the pandemic has ended , he said .
“ Today ’ s welcome news from FEMA means we will have that sustained federal commitment through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to transition clients into stable housing , ” Newsom wrote .
“ We know , and FEMA has now acknowledged , the need for Project Roomkey is greater than ever .
This effort is key in reducing community transmission and addressing hospital surge by providing a safe shelter for those who test positive , who are exposed to COVID-19 , or who are at high risk for medical complications were they to become infected , including seniors and those with chronic health conditions.
” It ’ s not clear whether Newsom ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put off closing Roomkey hotels .
Newsom did not specify exactly what qualifies as the end of the “ COVID emergency ” that will stop FEMA funding .
Last month , the governor ’ s office allocated another $ 62 million to the program , to help counties keep Project Roomkey hotels open , and to help them place occupants in permanent housing .
“ We want to make sure that individuals that need to be housed as a result of COVID-19 are sheltered , ” said Russ Heimerich , spokesman for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Housing Agency .
“ To the extent that the governor ’ s made additional money available , that ’ s an indication that yeah , we would really like counties to keep these Roomkey facilities open as long as there ’ s a need.
” Newsom ’ s letter follows a memo FEMA sent out Wednesday , doing away with the requirement to reapply monthly for reimbursement “ due to the ongoing nature of the public health emergency and nationwide increase in COVID-19 cases.
” And after the public health emergency has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional funding for up to 30 days , to help with the cost of closing the hotels , according to the memo .
However , FEMA noted the agency may end or modify the funding authorization with at least a 30-day notice .
“ This is definitely a big help to counties , ” Kerry Abbott , Alameda County ’ s director of homeless care and coordination , wrote in an emailed statement .
In San Francisco , officials were waiting for more information .
“ We ’ ve received the communication from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re looking into it for more specifics , ” said Deborah Bouck , a spokeswoman for the city ’ s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing .
• Milpitas residents opposing housing for homeless rebuffed in court again Friday ’ s news comes as COVID-19 cases continue to mount , and the state continues to set grim records .
California reported its deadliest day of the pandemic yet this week , the Bay Area ’ s intensive care units are filling up and prompting renewed lockdowns , and an outbreak at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 people .
The latest surge has sparked concern from activists that as hotels close and permanent housing options remain limited , people will be forced from hotel rooms back onto the street .
Bay Area officials say they ’ re doing everything they can to prevent that .
Alameda County plans to close two of its Project Roomkey hotels at the end of the month , and supervisors voted this week to extend leases on another two hotels through January , and the last two through February .
San Francisco supervisors voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordinance that requires the city to continue moving people into Project Roomkey hotels , even as rooms are vacated when the prior occupants find housing .
City officials had planned to move more than 500 people out of the hotels this month , but after pushback from critics , extended that timeline by three months .

The federal government will continue paying into California’s Project Roomkey until the pandemic ends, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday, eliminating some uncertainty around the program and potentially buying more time for unhoused residents sheltering in hotels throughout the state.
Under Project Roomkey, FEMA had agreed to reimburse California counties for 75% of the costs associated with putting homeless residents up in hotel rooms — but the counties had to reapply for the funding every month. As the pandemic dragged on, some Bay Area officials worried the reimbursements would end, and they’d be left footing the bill for the rooms. They began winding down their Roomkey programs, and attempting to move people from the hotels into long-term housing.
On Friday, Newsom turned that framework on its head with a letter to Project Roomkey providers. FEMA will no longer require counties to reapply for funding once a month. Instead, FEMA has authorized Project Roomkey reimbursements until the pandemic has ended, he said.
“Today’s welcome news from FEMA means we will have that sustained federal commitment through the COVID emergency, as you ultimately work to transition clients into stable housing,” Newsom wrote. “We know, and FEMA has now acknowledged, the need for Project Roomkey is greater than ever. This effort is key in reducing community transmission and addressing hospital surge by providing a safe shelter for those who test positive, who are exposed to COVID-19, or who are at high risk for medical complications were they to become infected, including seniors and those with chronic health conditions.”
It’s not clear whether Newsom’s announcement will prompt Bay Area counties to put off closing Roomkey hotels. Newsom did not specify exactly what qualifies as the end of the “COVID emergency” that will stop FEMA funding.
Last month, the governor’s office allocated another $62 million to the program, to help counties keep Project Roomkey hotels open, and to help them place occupants in permanent housing.
“We want to make sure that individuals that need to be housed as a result of COVID-19 are sheltered,” said Russ Heimerich, spokesman for the state’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “To the extent that the governor’s made additional money available, that’s an indication that yeah, we would really like counties to keep these Roomkey facilities open as long as there’s a need.”
Newsom’s letter follows a memo FEMA sent out Wednesday, doing away with the requirement to reapply monthly for reimbursement “due to the ongoing nature of the public health emergency and nationwide increase in COVID-19 cases.” And after the public health emergency has ended, applicants may be eligible for additional funding for up to 30 days, to help with the cost of closing the hotels, according to the memo. However, FEMA noted the agency may end or modify the funding authorization with at least a 30-day notice.
“This is definitely a big help to counties,” Kerry Abbott, Alameda County’s director of homeless care and coordination, wrote in an emailed statement.
In San Francisco, officials were waiting for more information.
“We’ve received the communication from FEMA and from the governor, and we’re looking into it for more specifics,” said Deborah Bouck, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.
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New San Jose law would ban homeless encampments and RVs near schools Housing | Home sweet parking lot: Some hospitals welcome RV living for patients, families, and workers Friday’s news comes as COVID-19 cases continue to mount, and the state continues to set grim records. California reported its deadliest day of the pandemic yet this week, the Bay Area’s intensive care units are filling up and prompting renewed lockdowns, and an outbreak at a San Jose homeless shelter recently infected 55 people.
The latest surge has sparked concern from activists that as hotels close and permanent housing options remain limited, people will be forced from hotel rooms back onto the street. Bay Area officials say they’re doing everything they can to prevent that.
Alameda County plans to close two of its Project Roomkey hotels at the end of the month, and supervisors voted this week to extend leases on another two hotels through January, and the last two through February. San Francisco supervisors voted this week to pass a 60-day emergency ordinance that requires the city to continue moving people into Project Roomkey hotels, even as rooms are vacated when the prior occupants find housing. City officials had planned to move more than 500 people out of the hotels this month, but after pushback from critics, extended that timeline by three months.


mercurynews--2020-12-19--Hacked networks may need to be burned ‘down to the ground’

It ’ s going to take months to kick elite hackers widely believed to be Russian out of the U.S. government networks they have been quietly rifling through since as far back as March in Washington ’ s worst cyberespionage failure on record .
Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked .
FireEye , the cybersecurity company that discovered the worst-ever intrusion into U.S. agencies and was among the victims , has already tallied dozens of casualties .
It ’ s racing to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem .
We don ’ t know what networks they are in , how deep they are , what access they have , what tools they left , ” said Bruce Schneier , a prominent security expert and Harvard fellow .
It ’ s not known exactly what the hackers were seeking , but experts say it could include nuclear secrets , blueprints for advanced weaponry and information for dossiers on key government and industry leaders .
That means many federal workers — and others in the private sector — will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spies .
Agencies will often have to conduct sensitive government business on Signal , WhatsApp and other encrypted smartphone apps .
“ We should buckle up .
This will be a long ride , ” said Dmitri Alperovitch , co-founder and former chief technical officer of the leading cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike .
“ Cleanup is just phase one.
” The only way to be sure a network is clean is “ to burn it down to the ground and rebuild it , ” Schneier said .
It ’ s the only way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imagine a computer network as a mansion you inhabit , and you are certain a serial killer as been there .
“ You don ’ t know if he ’ s gone .
How do you get work done ?
You kind of just hope for the best , ” he said .
Deputy White House press secretary Brian Morgenstern told reporters Friday that national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien has sometimes been leading multiple daily meetings with the FBI , the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence community , looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He would not provide details , “ but rest assured we have the best and brightest working hard on it each and every single day.
” President Donald Trump , who has downplayed the Russian cyberthreat after refusing to accept that a Kremlin hack-and-leak operation favored him in the 2016 election , has said nothing publicly about the SolarWinds attack .
But Morgenstern said he has been briefed .
There is little incentive for the White House to disclose which agencies were hacked .
That only helps U.S. adversaries , national security experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so extraordinary is its scale — 18,000 organizations were infected from March to June by malicious code that piggybacked on popular network-management software from an Austin , Texas , company called SolarWinds .
Only a sliver of those infections were activated .
FireEye says it has identified dozens , all “ high-value targets.
” Microsoft , which has helped respond , says it has identified more than 40 government agencies , think tanks , government contractors , non-governmental organizations and technology companies infiltrated by the hackers , 80 % of them in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most prominent Fortune 500 companies , and it ’ s U.S. government clients are rich with generals and spymasters .
Extracting the suspected Russian hackers ’ tool kits from victims is exacerbated by the complexity of SolarWinds ’ platform with its dozen different components .
“ This is like doing heart surgery , to pull this out of a lot of environments , ” said Edward Amoroso , CEO of TAG Cyber .
Security teams then have to assume that the patient is still sick with undetected so-called “ secondary infections ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitoring to make sure the intruders are not still around , sneaking out internal emails and other sensitive data .
That effort will take months , Alperovitch said .
If the hackers are indeed from Russia ’ s SVR foreign intelligence agency , as experts believe , their resistance may be tenacious .
When they hacked the White House , the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the State Department in 2014 and 2015 “ it was a nightmare to get them out , ” Alperovitch said .
“ It was the virtual equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep their footholds , “ to stay buried deep inside ” and move to other parts of the network where “ they thought that they could remain for longer periods of time.
” “ We ’ re likely going to face the same in this situation as well , ” he added .
FireEye executive Charles Carmakal said the intruders are especially skilled at camouflaging their movements .
Their software effectively does what a military spy often does in wartime — hide among the local population , then sneak out at night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really hard to catch some of these , ” he said .
Rob Knake , the White House cybersecurity director from 2011 to 2015 , said the harm to the most critical agencies in the U.S. government — defense and intelligence , chiefly — from the SolarWinds hacking campaign is going to be limited “ as long as there is no evidence that the Russians breached classified networks.
” During the 2014-15 hack , “ we lost access to unclassified networks but were able to move all operations to classified networks with minimal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Pentagon has said it has so far not detected any intrusions from the SolarWinds campaign in any of its networks — classified or unclassified .
The White House has been largely silent .
Given the fierce tenor of cyberespionage — the U.S. , Russia and China all have formidable offensive hacking teams and have been penetrating each others ’ government networks for years — many American officials are wary of putting anything sensitive on government networks .
• Two men allegedly shot at each other in Oakland , and a 19-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with murder • New report : Officer slain at Borderline Bar massacre had tripped and was shot by colleague • Attorney for woman accused of trying to kill off-duty Oakland cop wants officer ’ s records , arguing he ‘ fabricated ’ prior incident Fiona Hill , the top Russia expert at the National Security Council during much of the Trump administration , said she always presumed no government system was secure .
She “ tried from the beginning not to put anything down ” in writing that was sensitive .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business.
” Amoroso , of TAG Cyber , recalled the famous pre-election dispute in 2016 over classified emails sent over a private server set up by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state .
Clinton was investigated by the FBI in the matter , but no charges were brought .
“ I used to make the joke that the reason the Russians didn ’ t have Hillary Clinton ’ s email is because she took it off the official State Department network , ” Amoroso said .

By Frank Bajak | Associated Press
It’s going to take months to kick elite hackers widely believed to be Russian out of the U.S. government networks they have been quietly rifling through since as far back as March in Washington’s worst cyberespionage failure on record.
Experts say there simply are not enough skilled threat-hunting teams to identify all the government and private-sector systems that may have been hacked. FireEye, the cybersecurity company that discovered the worst-ever intrusion into U.S. agencies and was among the victims, has already tallied dozens of casualties. It’s racing to identify more.
“We have a serious problem. We don’t know what networks they are in, how deep they are, what access they have, what tools they left,” said Bruce Schneier, a prominent security expert and Harvard fellow.
It’s not known exactly what the hackers were seeking, but experts say it could include nuclear secrets, blueprints for advanced weaponry and information for dossiers on key government and industry leaders.
That means many federal workers — and others in the private sector — will have to presume that unclassified networks are teeming with spies. Agencies will often have to conduct sensitive government business on Signal, WhatsApp and other encrypted smartphone apps.
“We should buckle up. This will be a long ride,” said Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former chief technical officer of the leading cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. “Cleanup is just phase one.”
The only way to be sure a network is clean is “to burn it down to the ground and rebuild it,” Schneier said. It’s the only way to be sure an intruder is out.
Imagine a computer network as a mansion you inhabit, and you are certain a serial killer as been there. “You don’t know if he’s gone. How do you get work done? You kind of just hope for the best,” he said.
Deputy White House press secretary Brian Morgenstern told reporters Friday that national security adviser Robert O’Brien has sometimes been leading multiple daily meetings with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence community, looking for ways to mitigate the hack.
He would not provide details, “but rest assured we have the best and brightest working hard on it each and every single day.”
President Donald Trump, who has downplayed the Russian cyberthreat after refusing to accept that a Kremlin hack-and-leak operation favored him in the 2016 election, has said nothing publicly about the SolarWinds attack. But Morgenstern said he has been briefed.
There is little incentive for the White House to disclose which agencies were hacked. That only helps U.S. adversaries, national security experts said.
What makes this hacking campaign so extraordinary is its scale — 18,000 organizations were infected from March to June by malicious code that piggybacked on popular network-management software from an Austin, Texas, company called SolarWinds.
Only a sliver of those infections were activated. FireEye says it has identified dozens, all “high-value targets.” Microsoft, which has helped respond, says it has identified more than 40 government agencies, think tanks, government contractors, non-governmental organizations and technology companies infiltrated by the hackers, 80% of them in the United States.
SolarWinds’ customers include most prominent Fortune 500 companies, and it’s U.S. government clients are rich with generals and spymasters.
Extracting the suspected Russian hackers’ tool kits from victims is exacerbated by the complexity of SolarWinds’ platform with its dozen different components.
“This is like doing heart surgery, to pull this out of a lot of environments,” said Edward Amoroso, CEO of TAG Cyber.
Security teams then have to assume that the patient is still sick with undetected so-called “secondary infections” and set up the cyber equivalent of closed-circuit monitoring to make sure the intruders are not still around, sneaking out internal emails and other sensitive data.
That effort will take months, Alperovitch said.
If the hackers are indeed from Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence agency, as experts believe, their resistance may be tenacious. When they hacked the White House, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the State Department in 2014 and 2015 “it was a nightmare to get them out,” Alperovitch said.
“It was the virtual equivalent of hand-to-hand combat” as defenders sought to keep their footholds, “to stay buried deep inside” and move to other parts of the network where “they thought that they could remain for longer periods of time.”
“We’re likely going to face the same in this situation as well,” he added.
FireEye executive Charles Carmakal said the intruders are especially skilled at camouflaging their movements. Their software effectively does what a military spy often does in wartime — hide among the local population, then sneak out at night and strike.
“It’s really hard to catch some of these,” he said.
Rob Knake, the White House cybersecurity director from 2011 to 2015, said the harm to the most critical agencies in the U.S. government — defense and intelligence, chiefly — from the SolarWinds hacking campaign is going to be limited “as long as there is no evidence that the Russians breached classified networks.”
During the 2014-15 hack, “we lost access to unclassified networks but were able to move all operations to classified networks with minimal disruptions,” he said via email.
The Pentagon has said it has so far not detected any intrusions from the SolarWinds campaign in any of its networks — classified or unclassified.
The White House has been largely silent.
Given the fierce tenor of cyberespionage — the U.S., Russia and China all have formidable offensive hacking teams and have been penetrating each others’ government networks for years — many American officials are wary of putting anything sensitive on government networks.
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Giuliani: Legal quagmires have left him broke National Politics | Oakland nonfatal shooting suspect hit with federal gun possession charges Fiona Hill, the top Russia expert at the National Security Council during much of the Trump administration, said she always presumed no government system was secure. She “tried from the beginning not to put anything down” in writing that was sensitive.
“But that makes it more difficult to do business.”
Amoroso, of TAG Cyber, recalled the famous pre-election dispute in 2016 over classified emails sent over a private server set up by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state. Clinton was investigated by the FBI in the matter, but no charges were brought.
“I used to make the joke that the reason the Russians didn’t have Hillary Clinton’s email is because she took it off the official State Department network,” Amoroso said.


mercurynews--2020-12-19--‘Strange time to launch,’ but Campbell’s acclaimed chef Stout forges ahead with his long-awaited ups

‘Strange time to launch,’ but Campbell’s acclaimed chef Stout forges ahead with his long-awaited upscale steakhouse

“ Strange time to launch , ” Jeffrey Stout admits on his Facebook page .
But his upscale steakhouse , Be.Stéak.A , had been in the works at Campbell ’ s Pruneyard for more than two and a half years .
So , once construction and staffing were completed , the chef with Michelin roots created his first prix fixe menu and opened the doors .
With coronavirus restrictions in place , even his outdoor seating will have to remain closed while patrons drive up for curbside delivery of the seven-course tasting menu that showcases the culinary team ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this an ‘ opening , ’ but more of a friendly ‘ come by and check us out , ’ ” he wrote .
“ Quantities will be limited .
Always thankful for your support during these troubled times as well as in ‘ normal ’ times.
” “ Just have to stay strong and get through to a point where things can start opening up again.
” According to Stout , who is also the chef-owner of the Pruneyard center ’ s popular Orchard City Kitchen , the name Be.Stéak.A is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steak , “ bistecca , ” which on menus is typically seen as “ Bistecca alla Fiorentina , ” a Tuscan-style porterhouse .
“ I like it as it tells everything : Steak .
Italian .
American .
Big .
Bold , ” he told the Mercury News in 2018 when announcing the concept .
Stout was the chef who led Alexander ’ s Steakhouse of Cupertino to a Michelin star rating for three consecutive years before opening the hip Orchard City Kitchen , with its emphasis on farm-to-table creativity and cocktails to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 85 inaugural tasting menu features Yam “ Stones ” with truffled crema and fennel pollen ; Smoked Clam Croquette with prosciutto ; Caesar salad with endive and little gem lettuces , anchovy-pepper dressing , grana padano , tea egg and hazelnuts ; a cook-at-home Chitarra Bolognese kit with furikake and parmesan ; Filet Mignon with a cognac-green peppercorn sauce ; Creamed Leeks ; and for dessert , Polenta Cake with grappa-macerated grapes and whipped mascarpone .
Only a limited number of dinners are available from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. , with advance purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a black truffle tasting menu , for $ 145 , had already sold out .
“ These meals are as difficult to acquire as a PS5 !
” customer Joshua Graessley said on the restaurant ’ s Facebook page .
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“Strange time to launch,” Jeffrey Stout admits on his Facebook page.
But his upscale steakhouse, Be.Stéak.A, had been in the works at Campbell’s Pruneyard for more than two and a half years. So, once construction and staffing were completed, the chef with Michelin roots created his first prix fixe menu and opened the doors.
For takeout only.
With coronavirus restrictions in place, even his outdoor seating will have to remain closed while patrons drive up for curbside delivery of the seven-course tasting menu that showcases the culinary team’s talents.
“I am not calling this an ‘opening,’ but more of a friendly ‘come by and check us out,’ ” he wrote. “Quantities will be limited. Always thankful for your support during these troubled times as well as in ‘normal’ times.”
“Just have to stay strong and get through to a point where things can start opening up again.”
Making the decision to open was challenging, he told the Mercury News. Just after hiring staff for outdoor dining, the new shelter-in-place order was announced for Santa Clara County. “With no options left” but a kitchen stocked with ingredients, Stout said he and chef Patrick Capurro “decided to scramble and try to recover some losses.”
The name Be.Stéak.A is an American play on the Italian word for steak, “bistecca,” which on menus is typically seen as “Bistecca alla Fiorentina,” a Tuscan-style porterhouse. “I like it as it tells everything: Steak. Italian. American. Big. Bold,” he said in 2018 when announcing the concept.
Stout was the chef who led Alexander’s Steakhouse of Cupertino to a Michelin star rating for three consecutive years before heading to the Pruneyard to open the hip Orchard City Kitchen, with its emphasis on farm-to-table creativity and cocktails to match.
At Be.Stéak.A, the $85 inaugural tasting menu features Yam “Stones” with truffled crema and fennel pollen; Smoked Clam Croquette with prosciutto; Caesar salad with endive and little gem lettuces, anchovy-pepper dressing, grana padano, tea egg and hazelnuts; a cook-at-home Chitarra Bolognese kit with furikake and parmesan; Filet Mignon with a cognac-green peppercorn sauce; Creamed Leeks; and for dessert, Polenta Cake with grappa-macerated grapes and whipped mascarpone.
Only a limited number of dinners are available from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on select nights, with advance purchase a must. One day after opening, a black truffle tasting menu, for $145, had already sold out.
“These meals are as difficult to acquire as a PS5!” customer Joshua Graessley said on the restaurant’s Facebook page.


mercurynews--2020-12-19--MacKenzie Scott gives $10 million to Goodwill of Silicon Valley

MacKenzie Scott made a donation to Goodwill of Silicon Valley this week .
But unlike the box of clothes or a old toaster oven most people drop off , her gift was $ 10 million .
The gift — part of a $ 4.2 billion giving spree by the philanthropist and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — is the single biggest investment in the 92-year history of the nonprofit and it all started with an email about three weeks ago .
Goodwill of Silicon Valley CEO Michael E. Fox Jr. was contacted by a representative of “ someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the San Jose-based nonprofit .
That led to a meeting where he learned who the benefactor was and the transformational figure in mind .
“ Then you ’ re kind of speechless .
Was I even hearing it right ?
, ” Fox said .
“ This is life changing for our organization , and it just humbles you.
” Fox agreed to keep the news to himself until the announcement was made , and after he was told it would be happening this week , he gave his board of directors a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — while still keeping them in the dark about who and how much .
On Tuesday , Scott accompanied a post on Medium with a list of 384 organizations across the country that were “ giving through immediate support to people suffering the economic effects of the [ COVID-19 ] crisis.
” Goodwill of Silicon Valley was among them .
Other Bay Area groups listed were United Way Bay Area , YMCA of San Francisco , and Meals on Wheels San Francisco .
In her post , Scott said she tasked a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , using a data-driven approach to identify those with strong leadership skills and results , particularly in the areas of food demands , racial injustices , poverty and low access to financial capital .
Fox said that Goodwill of Silicon Valley ’ s selection was a tribute to the entire team , as well as its programs .
“ I am immensely proud that we are able to stand out and shine among the thousands of nationwide nonprofits , ” he said .
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo agreed , saying in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been an invaluable resource of help and hope for almost a century , serving thousands of people who have not been able to share in Silicon Valley ’ s prosperity .
I hope this donation serves to inspire others to make a similar gift that honors the organization ’ s altruistic work and boosts their efforts to elevate people ’ s standard of living.
” Now , of course , comes the hard part .
What do you do with $ 10 million you weren ’ t expecting ?
Fox said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase its revenue streams and could help accelerate plans already in the works for a vocational center — essentially a high school charter school for people over age 21 — as well as investments in infrastructure to make the organization more efficient .
Currently , Goodwill of Silicon Valley serves nearly 20,000 people every year through services like its Career Development Program and Neurodiversity Pathways , a job-training program that prepares people on the autism spectrum or with conditions like Asperger ’ s syndrome and ADHD for careers in various fields in Silicon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good stewards of the money .
You don ’ t want to just spend the money and make an impact for three years or so , ” Fox said .
“ Whatever we do , we want to create sustainability and we want to provide the impact on the community that the donor wanted.
” Fox , who has been CEO of Goodwill of Silicon Valley since 2008 , comes from a philanthropic family in Saratoga , so he has an appreciation for what Scott ’ s doing with her billions .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trust in the research she did and is unusual because donors often want to retain more control over what their money does .
He also noted that instead of contributing to big , well-known universities , she took a different approach that mirrored what she was doing with nonprofits .
“ She chose small and medium-sized colleges that impact minority students in much bigger ways , ” Fox said .
“ She really put her faith in the nonprofits she selected that they ’ re doing to do the right thing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a donor to do .
”

MacKenzie Scott made a donation to Goodwill of Silicon Valley this week. But unlike the box of clothes or a old toaster oven most people drop off, her gift was $10 million.
The gift — part of a $4.2 billion giving spree by the philanthropist and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — is the single biggest investment in the 92-year history of the nonprofit and it all started with an email about three weeks ago.
Goodwill of Silicon Valley CEO Michael E. Fox Jr. was contacted by a representative of “someone” interested in giving a donation to the San Jose-based nonprofit. That led to a meeting where he learned who the benefactor was and the transformational figure in mind. “Then you’re kind of speechless. Was I even hearing it right?,” Fox said. “This is life changing for our organization, and it just humbles you.”
Fox agreed to keep the news to himself until the announcement was made, and after he was told it would be happening this week, he gave his board of directors a heads-up that a donation announcement was coming — while still keeping them in the dark about who and how much.
On Tuesday, Scott accompanied a post on Medium with a list of 384 organizations across the country that were “giving through immediate support to people suffering the economic effects of the [COVID-19] crisis.” Goodwill of Silicon Valley was among them. Other Bay Area groups listed were United Way Bay Area, YMCA of San Francisco, and Meals on Wheels San Francisco.
In her post, Scott said she tasked a team of advisors to seek out deserving groups, using a data-driven approach to identify those with strong leadership skills and results, particularly in the areas of food demands, racial injustices, poverty and low access to financial capital. Fox said that Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s selection was a tribute to the entire team, as well as its programs. “I am immensely proud that we are able to stand out and shine among the thousands of nationwide nonprofits,” he said.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo agreed, saying in a statement, “Goodwill of Silicon Valley has been an invaluable resource of help and hope for almost a century, serving thousands of people who have not been able to share in Silicon Valley’s prosperity. I hope this donation serves to inspire others to make a similar gift that honors the organization’s altruistic work and boosts their efforts to elevate people’s standard of living.”
Now, of course, comes the hard part. What do you do with $10 million you weren’t expecting?
Fox said the donation would help the nonprofit diversify and increase its revenue streams and could help accelerate plans already in the works for a vocational center — essentially a high school charter school for people over age 21 — as well as investments in infrastructure to make the organization more efficient. Currently, Goodwill of Silicon Valley serves nearly 20,000 people every year through services like its Career Development Program and Neurodiversity Pathways, a job-training program that prepares people on the autism spectrum or with conditions like Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD for careers in various fields in Silicon Valley.
“We have to be good stewards of the money. You don’t want to just spend the money and make an impact for three years or so,” Fox said. “Whatever we do, we want to create sustainability and we want to provide the impact on the community that the donor wanted.”
Fox, who has been CEO of Goodwill of Silicon Valley since 2008, comes from a philanthropic family in Saratoga, so he has an appreciation for what Scott’s doing with her billions. Her unrestricted donations, he said, show a trust in the research she did and is unusual because donors often want to retain more control over what their money does. He also noted that instead of contributing to big, well-known universities, she took a different approach that mirrored what she was doing with nonprofits.
“She chose small and medium-sized colleges that impact minority students in much bigger ways,” Fox said. “She really put her faith in the nonprofits she selected that they’re doing to do the right thing. That’s an amazing thing for a donor to do.”


mercurynews--2020-12-19--Editorial: Are Newsom and Legislature serious about police reform?

Gov .
Gavin Newsom and California legislators soon will reveal whether they ’ re serious about police reform in the post-George Floyd era .
Real reform begins with transparency .
That means full disclosure about bad cops and a process for getting rid of them .
Now that President-elect Joe Biden has tapped state Attorney General Xavier Becerra as U.S. secretary of health and human services , Newsom will have an opportunity to replace him with someone who actually believes in police transparency .
Meanwhile , state lawmakers , who dropped the ball on two key police reform bills in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session , get a do-over .
This time they need to get it right .
They should back state Sen. Nancy Skinner ’ s bill to strengthen California ’ s police records disclosure laws and state Sen. Steven Bradford ’ s push to set up a police certification system as 45 other states already have done .
For decades , police in California enjoyed wide-reaching protections against disclosure of their misbehavior .
Then a 2018 state law , enacted with the passage of Skinner ’ s SB 1421 , started to pry open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies to release documents pertaining to cops ’ discharge of firearms , use of major force , sexual assault and dishonesty .
The records disclosures that followed were eye-opening : Stolen drugs and bullets .
A potentially deadly chokehold .
Falsified reports .
A person ’ s face smashed into the floor .
Sexual assault in jail .
Cavorting with sex workers .
Domestic violence complaints against an officer ignored .
Equally disturbing was the resistance to compliance with the disclosure law .
It was predictable that some local police agencies would try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocking was Becerra ’ s foot-dragging .
When Becerra suddenly started calling for police reforms in June , in the wake of the Floyd killing , it was laughable .
Up until that point , he had been the leading obstructionist to transparency .
He had even threatened legal action against reporters who had legally obtained , through a public records request , a list of criminal convictions of nearly 12,000 people who had been law enforcement officers in California or applied to be one .
The list informed an in-depth investigation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers working in California were convicted criminals .
Not only did the articles expose bad cops , they also helped unmask a system that shields them .
Becerra was appointed by then-Gov .
Jerry Brown as state attorney general in 2017 to fill the post vacated by Kamala Harris when she went to the U.S. Senate .
Becerra won election to a full four-year term in 2018 .
Now , Newsom will be able to select someone to fill out the rest of Becerra ’ s term .
Let ’ s hope the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mistake .
Newsom ’ s pick will indicate whether he really wants to see police transparency and reform .
Meanwhile , the findings from the records that have been released in the past two years and the resistance to disclosure demonstrate that SB 1421 must be broadened and toughened .
Bradford , D-Gardena , has introduced SB 2 to establish an independent , civilian certification process for holding police accountable .
And Skinner , D-Berkeley , has introduced SB 16 , which would impose civil fines on government agencies that refuse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public who must file a lawsuit for police records to recover twice reasonable attorney fees and costs .
The bill would expand the police records subject to disclosure to include allegations of excessive force and sustained findings of prejudicial conduct or unlawful arrests or searches .
And the bill would require police agencies to permanently retain records of sustained misconduct .
The two bills would help ensure that officers with histories of misconduct can ’ t just quit their jobs , keep their records secret and go work as cops in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountability is now .
It ’ s up to the governor and Legislature to make sure it happens .

Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards

Gov. Gavin Newsom and California legislators soon will reveal whether they’re serious about police reform in the post-George Floyd era.
Real reform begins with transparency. That means full disclosure about bad cops and a process for getting rid of them.
Now that President-elect Joe Biden has tapped state Attorney General Xavier Becerra as U.S. secretary of health and human services, Newsom will have an opportunity to replace him with someone who actually believes in police transparency.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers, who dropped the ball on two key police reform bills in the final hours of the last legislative session, get a do-over. This time they need to get it right.
They should back state Sen. Nancy Skinner’s bill to strengthen California’s police records disclosure laws and state Sen. Steven Bradford’s push to set up a police certification system as 45 other states already have done.
For decades, police in California enjoyed wide-reaching protections against disclosure of their misbehavior. Then a 2018 state law, enacted with the passage of Skinner’s SB 1421, started to pry open the door. The law requires police agencies to release documents pertaining to cops’ discharge of firearms, use of major force, sexual assault and dishonesty.
The records disclosures that followed were eye-opening: Stolen drugs and bullets. A potentially deadly chokehold. Falsified reports. A person’s face smashed into the floor. Sexual assault in jail. Cavorting with sex workers. Domestic violence complaints against an officer ignored.
Equally disturbing was the resistance to compliance with the disclosure law. It was predictable that some local police agencies would try to protect their own. What was shocking was Becerra’s foot-dragging.
When Becerra suddenly started calling for police reforms in June, in the wake of the Floyd killing, it was laughable. Up until that point, he had been the leading obstructionist to transparency.
He had even threatened legal action against reporters who had legally obtained, through a public records request, a list of criminal convictions of nearly 12,000 people who had been law enforcement officers in California or applied to be one.
The list informed an in-depth investigation that found that more than 80 law enforcement officers working in California were convicted criminals. Not only did the articles expose bad cops, they also helped unmask a system that shields them.
Becerra was appointed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown as state attorney general in 2017 to fill the post vacated by Kamala Harris when she went to the U.S. Senate. Becerra won election to a full four-year term in 2018. Now, Newsom will be able to select someone to fill out the rest of Becerra’s term.
Let’s hope the governor doesn’t repeat Brown’s mistake. Newsom’s pick will indicate whether he really wants to see police transparency and reform.
Meanwhile, the findings from the records that have been released in the past two years and the resistance to disclosure demonstrate that SB 1421 must be broadened and toughened. Bradford, D-Gardena, has introduced SB 2 to establish an independent, civilian certification process for holding police accountable.
And Skinner, D-Berkeley, has introduced SB 16, which would impose civil fines on government agencies that refuse to release records and entitle a member of the public who must file a lawsuit for police records to recover twice reasonable attorney fees and costs.
The bill would expand the police records subject to disclosure to include allegations of excessive force and sustained findings of prejudicial conduct or unlawful arrests or searches. And the bill would require police agencies to permanently retain records of sustained misconduct.
The two bills would help ensure that officers with histories of misconduct can’t just quit their jobs, keep their records secret and go work as cops in other jurisdictions.
The time for transparency and accountability is now. It’s up to the governor and Legislature to make sure it happens.


mercurynews--2020-12-19--Who will be the Raiders defensive coordinator in 2021? An early look at possible candidates

Raiders coach Jon Gruden is focused on finishing out the season before determining how to proceed on defense 2021 .
During his time with the Raiders ( 1998-2001 ) , Tampa Bay ( 2002 through 2008 ) and the Raiders again ( 2018 to present ) he ’ s had four : Willie Shaw , Chuck Bresnahan , Monte Kiffin and Paul Guenther .
All have run a 4-3 as their base defense .
Guenther is the first to be fired during a season .
Here are names that could come up , keeping in mind some could be unavailable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be hired as head coaches : Rod Marinelli , 71 , Raiders interim coordinator : Has a head start in the form of a three-game audition .
A 30-27 overtime loss to the Chargers was not promising , although predictable on a short week .
If the Raiders can go from awful to average in the last two games with adequate preparation , it ’ s a strong statement .
Raheem Morris , 44 , Atlanta Falcons interim head coach : If Morris doesn ’ t get the Falcons gig , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought after coordinators when the postseason musical chairs begins .
Gruden hired him at Tampa Bay .
Gus Bradley , 54 , L.A. Chargers coordinator : Was linebackers coach for Gruden at Tampa Bay 2006-08 .
Like Quinn , ran the Seattle defense before moving on .
Has been Chargers defensive coordinator since 2017 so he knows all about the AFC West .
If Anthony Lynn and the staff are swept out , he ’ ll be available and interested .
Wade Phillips 73 , unemployed , L.A. Rams coordinator : Already told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interested and has felt the love from Raiders fans on Twitter .
He may like the Raiders more than the Raiders like him .
Gruden has never run a 3-4 before .
Cory Littleton has , and so has Lamarcus Joyner under Phillips with the Rams .
Aaron Glenn , 48 , New Orleans Saints secondary coach : One of the fast-risers in NFL coaching circles .
He ’ d be first in line to be the Saints D.C. should Dennis Allen get a second crack at a head coaching job .
Vic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Fangio could hang on in Denver as head coach with a decent finish .
If not , he ’ ll have plenty of options to run a defense .
Another veteran who uses a 3-4 as his base defense .
Derrick Ansley , 39 , University of Tennessee coordinator : A Raiders secondary coach in 2018 , went to Tennessee to get experience as a coordinator .
Ansley told the Knoxville Sentinel he considers Gruden a mentor and still speaks with him .
Matt Patricia , 46 , unemployed , Detroit Lions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respected by Gruden and schooled in the New England defensive system under Bill Belichick .
Gruden had Patricia and the Lions to Napa for training camp practices .
Dan Quinn , 50 , unemployed , Atlanta Falcons coach : Many teams aspire to play defensively as the Seattle Seahawks did in his tenure there as coordinator under Pete Carroll .
Including the Raiders .
Marvin Lewis , 62 , Arizona State co-coordinator : Took a step back to work for Herm Edwards after being fired in Cincinnati and seems to enjoy it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gruden likes that style of defense .
Romeo Crennel , 73 , Houston Texans interim coach : Will be the market at the end of the season , Crennel also worked under Belichick .
That means multiple fronts and personalities based on the opponent that week .
Jerod Mayo , 34 , New England Patriots linebackers coach : The Patriots are all Mayo has ever known as a linebacker and a highly-regarded young assistant coach .
Has only had two years as an assistant .
Lovie Smith , 62 , unemployed , Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 style under Tony Dungy , has been defensive coordinator of the Rams as well as head coach in Chicago and with the Bucs .
Marinelli was his defensive coordinator with the Bears .
• Raiders hope to get healthy in time for miracle finish — Derek Carr ’ s status uncertain • Raiders can still make playoffs but require an extreme amount of AFC mess • Inside the Raiders : How Mariota ’ s performance affects Carr and the future of the franchise • Plenty of incentive : Marcus Mariota ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gregg Williams , 62 , unemployed , N.Y .
Jets coordinator : If you want a zero blitz from the 46-yard with five seconds to play , Williams is your guy .
Gruden loves competing against his coordinators in practice .
He ’ d have a ball with Williams .
Brent Venables , 49 , Clemson coordinator : There is zero indication Venables wants to leave the college ranks , plus he ’ s used to having superior talent than the opposition .
But he ’ s from Clemson , so you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 53 , Denver Broncos linebackers coach : Did a good job taking over for Ken Norton Jr. during the 2017 season .
Working in Fangio ’ s system now in Denver but has also operated a 4-3 so his background is solid .

Raiders coach Jon Gruden is focused on finishing out the season before determining how to proceed on defense 2021.
During his time with the Raiders (1998-2001), Tampa Bay (2002 through 2008) and the Raiders again (2018 to present) he’s had four: Willie Shaw, Chuck Bresnahan, Monte Kiffin and Paul Guenther. All have run a 4-3 as their base defense. Guenther is the first to be fired during a season.
Here are names that could come up, keeping in mind some could be unavailable because they’re under contract or could be hired as head coaches:
(Name, age, current or most recent position)
Rod Marinelli, 71, Raiders interim coordinator: Has a head start in the form of a three-game audition. A 30-27 overtime loss to the Chargers was not promising, although predictable on a short week. If the Raiders can go from awful to average in the last two games with adequate preparation, it’s a strong statement.
Raheem Morris, 44, Atlanta Falcons interim head coach: If Morris doesn’t get the Falcons gig, he’ll be one of the most sought after coordinators when the postseason musical chairs begins. Gruden hired him at Tampa Bay.
Gus Bradley, 54, L.A. Chargers coordinator: Was linebackers coach for Gruden at Tampa Bay 2006-08. Like Quinn, ran the Seattle defense before moving on. Has been Chargers defensive coordinator since 2017 so he knows all about the AFC West. If Anthony Lynn and the staff are swept out, he’ll be available and interested.
Wade Phillips 73, unemployed, L.A. Rams coordinator: Sources told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he’s interested and has felt the love from Raiders fans on Twitter. He may like the Raiders more than the Raiders like him. Gruden has never run a 3-4 before. Cory Littleton has, and so has Lamarcus Joyner under Phillips with the Rams.
I never realized there were so many Raider fans on Twitter- very impressive. — Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) December 15, 2020
Aaron Glenn, 48, New Orleans Saints secondary coach: One of the fast-risers in NFL coaching circles. He’d be first in line to be the Saints D.C. should Dennis Allen get a second crack at a head coaching job.
Vic Fangio, 62, Denver Broncos coach: Fangio could hang on in Denver as head coach with a decent finish. If not, he’ll have plenty of options to run a defense. Another veteran who uses a 3-4 as his base defense.
Derrick Ansley, 39, University of Tennessee coordinator: A Raiders secondary coach in 2018, went to Tennessee to get experience as a coordinator. Ansley told the Knoxville Sentinel he considers Gruden a mentor and still speaks with him.
Matt Patricia, 46, unemployed, Detroit Lions coach: Former Lions head coach is respected by Gruden and schooled in the New England defensive system under Bill Belichick. Gruden had Patricia and the Lions to Napa for training camp practices.
Dan Quinn, 50, unemployed, Atlanta Falcons coach: Many teams aspire to play defensively as the Seattle Seahawks did in his tenure there as coordinator under Pete Carroll. Including the Raiders.
Marvin Lewis, 62, Arizona State co-coordinator: Took a step back to work for Herm Edwards at Arizona State after being fired in Cincinnati and seems to enjoy it. Schooled Paul Guenther in Cincinnati, and Gruden likes that style of defense.
Romeo Crennel, 73, Houston Texans interim coach: Will be the market at the end of the season, Crennel also worked under Belichick. That means multiple fronts and personalities based on the opponent that week.
Jerod Mayo, 34, New England Patriots linebackers coach: The Patriots are all Mayo has ever known as a linebacker and a highly-regarded young assistant coach. Has only had two years as an assistant.
Lovie Smith, 62, unemployed, Illinois head coach: Schooled in the Tampa 2 style under Tony Dungy, has been defensive coordinator of the Rams as well as head coach in Chicago and with the Bucs. Marinelli was his defensive coordinator with the Bears.
Gregg Williams, 62, unemployed, N.Y. Jets coordinator: If you want a zero blitz from the 46-yard line with five seconds to play, Williams is your guy. Gruden loves competing against his coordinators in practice. He’d have a ball with Williams.
Brent Venables, 49, Clemson coordinator: There is zero indication Venables wants to leave the college ranks, plus he’s used to having superior talent than the opposition. But he’s from Clemson, so you know the Raiders like him.
John Pagano, 53, Denver Broncos linebackers coach: Did a good job taking over for Ken Norton Jr. during the 2017 season. Working in Fangio’s system now in Denver but has also operated a 4-3 so his background is solid.