Mask Mandates, Mass-testing, Science-backed Public Health Restrictions, Fully Funded Contact Tracing & Vaccinations

April 16, 2021

Countries across the globe were able to drastically reduce the duration of economic shutdowns and slow the spread of the virus through mask mandates, mass-testing and other economic practices.

In alignment with the Harvard Global Health Institute & Brown School of Public Health, I called for mass-testing before Governor Newsom re-opened back in May 2020 , as the only true means of safely reopening, reducing the spread and ensuring the health of #OurCalifornia. When we have a Governor who has failed us at every pivotal moment during this pandemic – we compound our suffering. Since, lives have unnecessarily been lost, we’ve seen COVID19 infections only increase & our economy has significantly been impacted as a direct result of his failures, humanity and lack of leadership.

The State has failed in its public health messaging and went from claiming it was science-based to completely arbitrary restrictions which the wealthy and politicians continue to be exempt from. Unlike our current Governor, I will not bend or waiver to the pressure of large corporations and the wealthy. I will not waiver for our health or our safety. We can protect both our health and economy – #OurCalifornia is far too important not to.

As your Governor I would use the California Emergency Services Act (2 CCR § 8550-8669.7) and the authority vested to me in 2 CCR § 8567a & 2 CCR § 8569-8570 in order to mitigate the effects of our declared States of Emergency both for COVID-19 and our economic crisis by implementing the following:

Fully fund Public Health Departments in every locality to ensure they have the staff and resources required to address this pandemic and contact tracing needs;
Utilize all public-private partnerships to ensure masks, face shields & sanitary supplies are made at a 3:1 ratio for all Californians at no-cost;
- Respecting Tribal Sovereignty & ensuring redress, fund and/or provide all supplies and necessary counts/ratios requested by all 164 First Nations of California Indians;
Ensure mass distribution of masks, face shields & sanitary supplies are available at all State & Locality offices, and can be mailed directly to all higher risk populations currently self-isolating;
- Deputize local grassroots organizations that successfully work with underserved and marginalized populations from Siskiyou to Imperial County to effectively distribute goods and services to those most in need personally;
Utilize all State research, manufacturing options & public-private partnerships to ensure two step testing process is available and provided to every Californian who wishes to be tested for COVID-19: Ensure production of 4 tests made per Californian;
- Respecting Tribal Sovereignty & ensuring redress, fund and/or provide all supplies and necessary counts/ratios requested by all 164 First Nations of California Indians;
- Free Mass-testing would begin with Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are cheaper than PCR tests, use the same technology as pregnancy tests, and can provide results in 15-30 minutes. These tests are capable of accurately determining individuals who are COVID19 negative, or do not have the virus, by 99.99%. However these rapid antigen tests lack complete accuracy in correctly determining COVID19 positivity with similar accuracy. As rapid antigen tests are correctly identified COVID-19 positivity 96% of the time – additional measures are needed as 4% of people being incorrectly identified as having/not having COVID19 is critical both for initial contraction and community spread;
  - Additionally, using a standard PCR or blood tests to confirm all the Rapid Antigen Test COVID19 positive results, and random sampling all others will establish a more accurate picture of who has the virus, especially among asymptomatic people – the largest population of COVID-19 infections in our State;
- For all higher risk populations currently self-isolating, be it Elders, the Disabled, or those with pre-existing conditions, Lucira At-Home Testing Kits could be mailed directly to their place of residence. These testing kits are capable of accurately determining individuals who are COVID19 negative, or do not have the virus, by 99.99%. However Lucira’s testing kit lacks complete accuracy in correctly determining COVID19 positivity with similar accuracy. As Lucira’s At-Home Testing Kits are correctly identified COVID-19 positivity 94% of the time – additional measures are needed as 6% of people being incorrectly identified as having/not having COVID19 is critical both for initial contraction and spread;
  - Additionally, working with Public Health Departments to safely administer a standard PCR or blood tests to for all self-isolating individuals to confirm all the Lucira At-Home Testing Kit COVID19 positive results, and random sampling all others will establish a more accurate picture of who has the virus, especially among asymptomatic people – the largest population of COVID-19 infections in our State.
Ensure public health messaging begins and remains science-based, humane & ethical approaches:
- #StayAtHome orders are essential to reducing spread during peak pandemic spikes, and I support these with Universal Housing protections & Direct Cash Assistance
  - Universal Housing Protections:
    - Cancellation of rent/mortgage for all Californians
    - Immediately housing all unhoused Californians
    - Ensuring safe alternatives for at-risk populations: overly-populated residences, survivors of partner/intimate violence, etc
  - Direct Cash Assistance:
    - $1000/month to
- General Harm Reduction Methods based in science with public health data to support State expectations:
  - General population wearing masks;
  - General population social distancing;
  - Opportunities for full 14-day quarantine in safe and separate locations (large hotels staffed with public health officials for check-ins and check-ups) after direct contact with someone who is COVID19 positive;
  - Frontline & Essential worker Quarantine support available (also at large hotels staffed with public health officials for check-ins and check-ups) after potential customer/client COVID-19 positive interaction;
  - I know the fear and anxiety frontline & essential workers have returning home from work and possibly infecting loved ones they share living spaces with; my government will act with intention, recognizing and fully supporting the sacrifices essential workers make by providing opportunities for harm reduction and reduction of clusters by making alternative/quarantine housing options available to all workers;
  - Mandate travel 14-day quarantine for all domestic and international travel at same large hotel facilities;
  - Ensure criteria and mandates for businesses to open are feasible for both small and large firms to fulfill:
    - Small Business Assistance Compliance w/ Sanitation & Public Health Support
    - No exemptions based on business annual income (which typically favors elites and large firms), political donations, etc
  - Politicians who fail to abide by benefits receive public ethics investigation, required community restitution to a formal right to remove/recall process;
  - Businesses who fail to abide by State criteria will be investigated by Public Health and can receive sanctions ranging from restitution to license revocation;
Ensuring the State assists in effective public vaccine distribution through all public and private means at my disposal to ensure the vaccine is available to all Californians without extended wait times or delays if they wish to take the vaccine;
- Ensure the roll out of the vaccine is funded for both phases of the vaccine.
Understanding that initial vaccine trials were extremely limited in ethnic and medical diversity, ensure a public and transparent long-term study of vaccination outcomes and ensure Californians remain supported in their overall and long-term health post-vaccination (if taken);
- Hold large pharmaceutical corporations responsible should there be patterns in long-term outcomes which jeopardize the health or well-being of Californians;
In the true spirit of Upton Sinclair’s End Poverty in California campaign, I will call on fellow Citizens, Socialists, Governors, and fellow Socialist Gubernatorial campaigns across this country to adopt and implement the same.

Given Governor Newsom’s declared States of Emergency and his Constitutional authority, there is nothing logistically stopping Governor Newsom from adopting and immediately implementing all of these policies for #OurCalfironia. I call on him to do so immediately.