Official: California COVID surge could ease next month

By BRIAN MELLEY
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A surge in coronavirus cases has shut down California schools and sidelined thousands of police, firefighters and health care workers but officials are hoping it will be short-lived. Los Angeles County’s public health director said Thursday that she’s hoping it will begin to ease in February. Barbara Ferrer also says vaccinations and boosters are protecting many people from severe illness. Meanwhile, California’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has soared five-fold in two weeks. That’s led to hourslong waits for COVID tests and it’s also straining school systems. All 54 schools in West Contra Costa County are closed Friday and some teachers in Oakland planned a sickout to demand more virus protections.