COVID-19 pandemic has exposed California’s secretive side. We now need more details

Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly pledged during the COVID-19 pandemic to learn how to do things better as the state fights the disease. Keys on the checklist: sheltering, testing, treating, equipping.

Here’s one Newsom should add to the tally: informing.

The governor has gotten high marks for his daily updates, which have been useful. But several reports over the past week show just how far the state in general, and Newsom in particular, have to go to better inform Californians about this public health crisis.

A key word in that last sentence is public. California and the nation are waging what experts hope is a once-in-generation battle with a novel virus that has proven highly effective at killing seniors, especially those with serious pre-existing health problems.

Because so much of the success of this battle involves a high degree of cooperation from the public, it is reasonable to expect that state leaders provide an equally robust amount of information so Californians can respond properly.

But that is not happening in key ways.

Nursing home data

The Sacramento Bee reported about a week ago how there was a dearth of public information regarding infections at nursing facilities in the state. The Bee’s reporters surveyed all of California’s 58 counties to learn about COVID-19 infections in long-term-care facilities, which are among the most dangerous places for one to live right now. Eight counties refused to provide any information; others gave only partial answers. The reason: Officials hid behind the “patient confidentiality” excuse even though the reporters were not asking specifics about any person.

The Bee asked which California counties had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in nursing homes and other senior living facilities. Officials in Sacramento, Stanislaus and Fresno counties did not respond.

The Bee’s story published the morning of April 17. That evening the state Department of Public Health published an online list of 86 percent of the state’s nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaks and the number of cases at each facility. Notably, the list did not report number of deaths at each place.

Deeper demographics

The Fresno Bee’s Manuela Tobias reported this week that the ACLU of Northern California has written Newsom to ask that the state provide more details about those being tested and treated.

The goal is to understand better how the illness is affecting people of color and others, like those who are LGBTQ, disabled, or are essential workers. The idea is to assess the impact of the coronavirus on traditionally marginalized groups, the ACLU says.

“The state has cited patient privacy laws they say prevent them from releasing such data. But ACLU lawyers argue what they are requesting abides by California’s privacy laws,” Tobias reported.

Newsom has frequently referred to California as a “nation state” as it has ramped up to deal with the pandemic. So, logically, any nation state worth its mettle should be able to provide the details that the ACLU is asking for to deepen public awareness in this crisis.

Secretive contract

Newsom has refused demands to be forthcoming on a nearly $1 billion deal he made to buy protective masks from a supplier in China. A bipartisan group of legislators seeking details have been stymied by Newsom advisers who want the money quickly but are not briefing the lawmakers on the agreement.

Newsom’s idea is to go around the Trump administration to secure personal protective equipment that has been sorely lacking for doctors and medical staff across the state. The lawmakers, though, want to better understand the deal and put it in the context of the state’s war against the coronavirus.

Newsom told a Santa Clara County audience on Saturday that “I recognize everybody’s desire to have everything out there tomorrow. And we look forward to all those details becoming public very, very shortly.” But short of further explanation, there is no reason the basic elements of the purchase should be withheld.

Legacy question

Years from how, Californians will look back and judge how well Newsom led the state through this challenge. There have been some, such as Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld, who have criticized the governor for excessively suspending civil liberties in the quest to fight COVID-19 — such as the right to assemble as a church congregation and worship freely.

The public can more willingly agree to a temporary suspension of liberties if it is made clear why that must happen. Newsom has been forthcoming with much information. But he should be willing to share even more, even when it shows the state needs to improve its own reporting efforts.

This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 12:32 PM.