Today, Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference to announce the launch of an initiative aimed at helping “older Californians stay connected while they stay home during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
California has created a statewide hotline — 833-544-2374 — in coordination with the non-profit local 2-1-1 systems, so that Californians have a one-stop shop to answer their questions and get assistance during this crisis. A copy of the news release can be found here.
The Governor opened his remarks by stating that in the last 24 hours more than 25,000 healthcare professionals have already signed up for the California Health Corps, announced yesterday to aid with the coronavirus surge. Given this response, the Governor does not expect California will need to bring in healthcare professionals from other states.
Additionally, he said California will likely announce new guidelines soon on whether the general public should wear masks. Consistent with the last several days, Newsom offered the latest COVID-19 hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) patient figures. The number of coronavirus hospitalizations is now 1,617. The number of coronavirus patients in ICU beds is 657.
During the Q&A portion of the press conference, Governor Newsom was asked about unemployment numbers. Newsom said that more than 150,000 Californians filed for unemployment insurance yesterday, which is a record. There are now more 1.6 million people who have applied in total during the crisis.
When asked about the legislative calendar going forward, he stressed how “fluid” the situation is but did not provide a concrete update – saying “there is no time certain to come back into session.” He said he spoke to Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon this morning. The Governor pointed out that reconvening is ultimately the call of legislative leadership, not his, but he said the Legislature is listening to health officials.
The Governor also said his office is working on doing more with the eviction moratorium he signed last week, saying small businesses are top of mind for him. That EO temporarily suspended evictions for those who cannot pay rent because of COVID-19, however, the order did not apply to commercial renters. His office is also working with grocery stores and unions to give workers more protection, including breaks to wash their hands and protective equipment.
As an update to yesterday’s call with school superintendents, the Governor said “we are working together” to come up with “a robust framework” on what will happen next. He also said he expects an official announcement from the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction within the next couple of days.
On Monday, March 30th, Governor Newsom signed an “omnibus” executive order (EO) that will provide tax, regulatory and licensing extensions for businesses. Among several other things, the executive order allows the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to offer a 90-day extension for tax returns and tax payments for all businesses filing a return for less than $1 million in taxes. Another declaration makes it easier for companies to hold remote shareholder meetings prior to June 30, 2020. The EO also says that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will begin accepting license renewals through the mail. Additionally, the EO pushes back the deadline for the transfer of Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to the California Health and Human Services Agency. Please note that this EO is six pages long and wide-ranging. A copy of the EO can be found here and a copy of the Governor’s Office press release can be found here.