By Michelle Lim & Thomas Wong, Staff Writers
Biden’s Vaccine Plan
California’s surge in COVID-19 cases is leveling off, which may be the end of a wave of cases that peaked at over 15,000 a day.
For the past few weeks, it was common for nurses to care for up to six patients at a time. Healthcare workers rationed dwindling oxygen supplies. At the beginning of 2021, only 324 ICU beds were available in L.A. County.
President Joe Biden promised to meet the goal of 100 million vaccine shots in the first 100 days of his presidency; so far only 28 million Americans received the vaccination as of Feb. 4. He plans to use the powers of the Defense Production Act to direct businesses and government agencies to supply vaccines, needles and N95 masks, as well as open up a hundred new federal vaccination centers across the country.
“President Biden’s vaccine plan is an effective way to combat COVID-19,” junior Ryan Wong said. “It provides more vaccination centers and much needed funding for hospitals, which is especially important to me. Since my father is in healthcare, my family has seen the horrors of overcrowded and understaffed medical centers.”
LA County approves $5 raise
Frontline store workers in unincorporated areas of L.A. County will soon receive an additional $5 of Hero Pay for each hour worked. L.A. County Board supervisors introduced the proposal due to the surge in COVID-19 cases as a way to compensate employees who risk their lives working in drug retailers and grocery stores.
The raise will apply to publicly traded companies or those that have at least 300 employees nationwide and at least 10 employees per store.
Nearby unincorporated areas include Mayflower Village, parts of East Pasadena and parts of San Gabriel.
Once approved, workers will receive the raise for at least 120 days.
Long Beach approved a similar plan requiring $4 an hour of additional pay for at least four months on Jan. 22, and the City of L.A. approved an additional $5 an hour raise on Feb. 2.
“My family runs a small family-owned and operated market with just a few extra employees, so the extra pay would be generous and good for them,” sophomore Abella Nhan said. “It’s going in the right direction, but there are still a lot of people and essential workers that are out there in danger and struggling to pay the bills. The raise will surely help, but I question if it is enough.”