Por Brenda Goodman, CNN

Varios estadounidenses que estuvieron expuestos a una cepa rara de hantavirus a bordo de un crucero esta primavera han regresado a casa para completar la segunda mitad de su cuarentena obligatoria de seis semanas.

Cinco pasajeros han sido dados de alta de la Unidad Nacional de Cuarentena, que está supervisada por el Centro Médico de la Universidad de Nebraska. Otros trece permanecen en la unidad, aunque algunos saldrán en las próximas semanas para completar su seguimiento en casa, según un comunicado de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés).

“Estas personas siguen sin presentar síntomas y han cumplido los criterios establecidos por los funcionarios de salud pública para continuar de forma segura el seguimiento en casa”, dijo el CDC el lunes.

Los departamentos de salud estatales continuarán realizando un seguimiento diario de síntomas, así como supervisión continua 24/7 de cada persona, y brindarán orientación durante el resto del período de seguimiento de 42 días, que finalizará el 21 de junio.

Se suponía que un sexto pasajero saldría de la Unidad de Cuarentena el lunes, pero su estado no ha aceptado los requisitos de seguimiento del gobierno federal, por lo que se le exigió permanecer en la instalación.

El CDC instó al público a evitar el estigma dirigido a las personas que están siendo monitoreadas.

“El seguimiento de salud pública es una medida de precaución diseñada para apoyar la salud de quienes pudieron haber estado expuestos y proteger a las comunidades. El CDC agradece a las personas que se vieron afectadas y que reconocieron la importancia de esta medida de seguridad pública durante este momento difícil”, señaló el comunicado.

Dos pasajeros han regresado a Nueva York después de que el estado aceptara proporcionar seguimiento a tiempo completo, según el Departamento de Salud del Estado.

Un pasajero, que pidió no ser identificado por temor a que su familia pudiera ser acosada, dijo a CNN que fue llevado a casa en un avión fletado con dos pilotos y tres miembros del personal médico.

Dijo que le informaron que un agente de la policía estatal estaba apostado fuera de su residencia en un vehículo sin distintivos.

“Es importante enfatizar que no existe un riesgo inmediato para el público”, dijo en un comunicado el Dr. James McDonald, comisionado de salud de Nueva York.

“Seguiremos monitoreando la situación y proporcionando actualizaciones a medida que estén disponibles. En virtud de los protocolos establecidos para vigilar su salud y proteger a la comunidad, hay una orden de cuarentena en vigor. Ambos pasajeros han aceptado y están obligados a permanecer en sus residencias, no tener contacto con otras personas y participar en actividades de seguimiento diario realizadas por funcionarios de salud locales. Existen planes para trasladarlos a instalaciones médicas apropiadas en el improbable caso de que desarrollen síntomas o necesiten cualquier otra atención médica”, dijo McDonald.

Otros dos se dirigen a California. Uno regresó el lunes y otro regresará más adelante. El Departamento de Salud del estado dijo en un comunicado que, junto con sus socios locales, está “plenamente preparado para recibir a dos residentes de California que fueron pasajeros a bordo del MV Hondius y que han completado la cuarentena en Nebraska, y para monitorearlos por enfermedad durante el resto de su período de seguimiento”. El estado también dijo que ha continuado monitoreando durante varias semanas a otras siete personas expuestas a la cepa Andes del hantavirus, incluida otra pasajera del crucero.

California está adoptando un “enfoque a medida” para el seguimiento, “teniendo en cuenta la situación de cada persona expuesta, así como la orientación de salud pública pertinente”, señaló el comunicado.

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The post Election Challenges appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — With just one day remaining before voters cast their final ballots in California's gubernatorial race, candidates from across the political spectrum are making affordability a central focus of their campaigns.

From housing and taxes to economic opportunity and public safety, candidates are offering sharply different approaches to address the high cost of living that continues to challenge Californians.

Green Party candidate Butch Ware argues that income inequality is at the root of many of the state's most pressing problems, including housing instability, healthcare access, educational disparities, and broader social inequities.

Ware has proposed imposing steep taxes on vacant properties owned by large investment firms and private equity companies.

"I want to tax those private equity companies that are making it so that none of us can afford a place to live," Ware said. "I want to tax them so hard on those vacant properties that they can't wait to sell those back to the state, and that that becomes the basis for social housing."

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who is campaigning under the slogan "Fighting for the California Dream," says many Californians are within reach of homeownership but need assistance overcoming financial barriers.

"Most of you… the only thing missing between being a renter and being the owner is that down payment," Becerra said.

Fellow Democrat Tom Steyer says California must significantly increase housing construction while also providing immediate relief to renters.

"The biggest issue in housing is that we need to build a lot more houses, and we need to build them a lot faster and a lot cheaper," Steyer said. "But in the short run, I'm going to push to greatly expand the renters tax credit."

Republican candidate Steve Hilton is emphasizing tax relief as a way to boost affordability for working Californians.

"That'll help everybody in California, but it disproportionately helps those who are working-class Californians working incredibly hard," Hilton said while discussing his proposal to make the first $100,000 of income tax-free.

Meanwhile, Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, says affordability cannot be addressed without tackling public safety concerns and reducing government regulations.

"We have to reduce our taxes and business regulations, and we have to make us safe," Bianco said.

As voters prepare to make their decision, affordability remains one of the defining issues in the race to lead California, with candidates presenting competing visions for how to make the state more affordable for residents struggling with housing costs and rising expenses.

The election will determine which approach Californians want to see implemented in the years ahead.

The post California Gubernatorial Candidates Offer Competing Plans to Tackle Cost of Living Crisis appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) — With just one day remaining before voters cast their final ballots in California's gubernatorial race, candidates from across the political spectrum are making affordability a central focus of their campaigns.

From housing and taxes to economic opportunity and public safety, candidates are offering sharply different approaches to address the high cost of living that continues to challenge Californians.

Green Party candidate Butch Ware argues that income inequality is at the root of many of the state's most pressing problems, including housing instability, healthcare access, educational disparities, and broader social inequities.

Ware has proposed imposing steep taxes on vacant properties owned by large investment firms and private equity companies.

"I want to tax those private equity companies that are making it so that none of us can afford a place to live," Ware said. "I want to tax them so hard on those vacant properties that they can't wait to sell those back to the state, and that that becomes the basis for social housing."

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who is campaigning under the slogan "Fighting for the California Dream," says many Californians are within reach of homeownership but need assistance overcoming financial barriers.

"Most of you… the only thing missing between being a renter and being the owner is that down payment," Becerra said.

Fellow Democrat Tom Steyer says California must significantly increase housing construction while also providing immediate relief to renters.

"The biggest issue in housing is that we need to build a lot more houses, and we need to build them a lot faster and a lot cheaper," Steyer said. "But in the short run, I'm going to push to greatly expand the renters tax credit."

Republican candidate Steve Hilton is emphasizing tax relief as a way to boost affordability for working Californians.

"That'll help everybody in California, but it disproportionately helps those who are working-class Californians working incredibly hard," Hilton said while discussing his proposal to make the first $100,000 of income tax-free.

Meanwhile, Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, says affordability cannot be addressed without tackling public safety concerns and reducing government regulations.

"We have to reduce our taxes and business regulations, and we have to make us safe," Bianco said.

As voters prepare to make their decision, affordability remains one of the defining issues in the race to lead California, with candidates presenting competing visions for how to make the state more affordable for residents struggling with housing costs and rising expenses.

The election will determine which approach Californians want to see implemented in the years ahead.

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