Other items in today’s column include:
*Soille students learn blessings, role playing
*Political bytes
*Coming our way
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — Congresswoman Susan Davis, D-San Diego, has issued a fact sheet about the coronavirus. We republish it here:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified on February 11, 2020 in Wuhan, China. The first infections were linked to a live animal market, but the virus is now spreading from person-to-person. It often spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest) but some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
For confirmed coronavirus cases, reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
How You Can Protect YourselfThere is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
If there is an outbreak in our community, CDC recommends the everyday preventive measures listed above—especially staying home when sick—and taking these additional measures:
- Keeping away from others who are sick.
- Limiting face-to-face contact with others as much as possible.
- Consulting with your healthcare provider if you or your household members are at high risk for COVID-19 complications.
- Wearing a facemask if advised to do so by your healthcare provider or by a public health official.
- Staying home when a household member is sick with respiratory disease symptoms, if instructed to do so by public health officials or a health care provider (Voluntary Home Quarantine).
Additional InformationImported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in the U.S. Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 also has been reported among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan. On February 25, CDC confirmed COVID-19 in a person who reportedly did not have relevant travel history or exposure to another known patient with COVID-19 (unknown exposure). For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low. Under current circumstances, certain people will have an increased risk of infection, for example healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 and other close contacts of persons with COVID-19. CDC has developed guidance to help in the risk assessment and management of people with potential exposures to COVID-19.
CDC has developed a new laboratory test kit for use in testing patient specimens for the virus. CDC’s test kit is intended for use by laboratories designated by CDC and will be shipped to qualified international laboratories. CDC is working to develop a new laboratory test to assist with efforts to determine how much of the U.S. population has been exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19.
For more information about COVID-19 from the CDC, please click here. You can also find a fact sheet from the CDC here.
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Soille students learn blessings, role playing
Three students tied in Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School’s “Bracha Bee”: Yael Broudy, 6th grade; Rebecca Leeman, 7th grade, and Ruthie McElfresh, 8th grade. In another activity of the Orthodox school, second graders played “Soillevile.” According to the school’s weekly bulletin, “Each student had a role in the community which included jobs like the community doctor, dentist, librarian, fireman, banker, and even a Rabbi. Each family had a scenario that took them on a journey through Soilleville interacting with every student in the class. The culmination of the game was a celebration packed with healthy treats on a classic board spinner.”
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*Political bytes
*Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg plans an Election Eve stop in San Diego at San Ysidro High School, 5353 Airway Road, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m., March 2.
*Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has endorsed Sara Jacobs in the 53rd Congressional District, saying: “As someone who grew up in San Diego and a former Member of Congress, there is no one I trust more than Sara Jacobs to go to Washington to get things done. I worked closely with [retiring Congresswoman] Susan Davis for a decade, and I can think of no one better than Sara to continue her advocacy for children and for San Diego. Now more than ever, we need leaders like Sara who are willing to work across the aisle to address issues like climate change, gun violence, and the high cost of living with the urgency they require.” In response, Jacobs commented, “To have the support of someone who knows what it takes to get things done in Congress–and of the first openly gay governor in American history–means the world to me.” Jacobs also announced the endorsement of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, which is San Diego’s largest African-American newspaper.
*State Sen. Brian Jones, R-Santee, is co-authoring legislation with fellow members of the Senate Republican Caucus to repeal last year’s Assembly Bill 5, which requires many freelance workers to be reclassified as employees. Jones, who is running for Congress in the 50th CD, described AB5, which was authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales (D-San Diego) as “a blatant power grab by Democrat politicians and some labor bosses. hard working Californians face the loss of their businesses and livelihoods. Governor [Gavin] Newsom never should have signed such a poorly thought-out measure and it’s time to repeal it.”
*The Save San Diego Neighborhoods organization has endorsed Barbara Bry for mayor of San Diego and Cory Briggs for city attorney. “They will force the short term vacation rental investors,developers, owners, and operators to return the 16,000 homes they ripped-off from San Diego’s housing supply,” according to the grassroots group which claims more tan 3,000 members.
*Terra Lawson-Remer, a candidate in the 3rd County Supervisorial District, is in a tough race against incumbent Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, a Republican, and Escondido City Councilwoman Olga Diaz, a fellow Democrat On Saturday, Lawson-Remer announced, “The right-wing Republican Lincoln Club just dropped $32k attacking me and supporting my Democratic opponent. They think Gaspar is toast, so they’re trying to hand-pick our next Supervisor by choosing the Democratic primary winner. The Lincoln Club is the power center of right-wing Republicans in San Diego — a group ideologically opposed to helping poor people and protecting the environment. We should be proud to be their number one target.” Diaz, meanwhile commented: “My opponent’s supporters spent another $68,000 in negative mailers against me this past week. That means they’ve spent more than $100,000 attacking me, a fellow democrat. The worst part is that data shows negative mail is effective at swaying voters. What those voters don’t know is that it’s intentionally confusing, political spin, and flat out lies.”
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Coming our way
*Holocaust Survivor Rose Schindler will tell of her experiences in a concentration camp and how she and her late husband Max Schindler rebuilt their lives at a meeting of the Harry Appelman & Arthur Towne San Diego Post 185 of the Jewish War Veterans at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 8, at Chabad of Poway, 16934 Chabad Way, Poway. Reservations required not later than Thursday March 5 via Allen Miliefsky at (619) 737-6910.
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Recommended reading
Democratic strategist Gary South ponders in a column for Times of San Diego the story lines behind several possible presidential primary outcomes in California.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com