Bay Briefing: Bay Area sees first confirmed cases of variant that reduces effectiveness of some vaccines
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Lab technician Jason Tran processes COVID-19 test samples at UCSF Microbiology Laboratory in San Francisco.Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
Good morning, Bay Area. It’s Thursday, Feb. 11, and a friendly rivalry is pushing forward the world of competitive surfing. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
‘A very limited picture’
Two cases of a coronavirus variant first found in South Africa that reduces the effectiveness of some vaccines have been identified in the Bay Area, in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.
Michelle Roberts of Fairfield was another shopper who waited patiently to be admitted.
âIâm not here for Valentineâs candy,â said Roberts. She was buying chocolate for every day. âItâs the only dessert I eat,â she explained.
Roberts said she wasnât deterred by the short line. The line at the Vacaville Seeâs Candies was even longer, said Roberts. No, she didnât come to Napa just for Seeâs candy, she clarified. She had other tasks to do in Napa as well. Honest.
Roberts said if anyone was thinking about buying Seeâs candy, not to let a line of only a few people deter them. On other days, sheâs seen the line at the Napa Seeâs wrap around the building. In other words, this was nothing.
Brookdale Senior Living, which operates more than 700 retirement communities and assisted living facilities in the U.S., said in a statement that it was taking the COVID-19 situation extremely seriously, adding that safety is the company s top priority. We are diligently monitoring our residents and associates for signs and symptoms, and we continue to work directly with local health officials to help ensure our residents and associates have the appropriate and necessary medical support, the company said.
Brookdale Napa is one of about 50 assisted living, senior care and skilled nursing facilities in the county, according to a Napa County spokeswoman. As of Feb. 1, outbreaks have been confirmed at 13 of them.