Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/author/ngerda/)
Nick covers the city of Santa Ana, as well as the County of Orange, often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health, and the role of money in politics. Since joining Voice of OC in 2011, Nick has regularly shed light on topics that are often kept in the shadows. He’s reported on systemic problems in the county’s mental health system. He also led a reporting team that produced sophisticated looks at how the Disney corporation campaign contributions influenced recent elections in Anaheim. Nick also revealed evidence of elected leaders using their official powers to apparently pressure government contractors into donating to their election campaigns, in an article that was awarded best news story of the year by the Orange County Press Club. He firmly believes journalism should inform the public and help hold the powerful accountable. An Orange County native, Nick first started covering local government in his mid-teens, before attending Santa Ana College, the American University in Cairo, and UC Irvine, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Languages spoken: English, elementary Spanish, minimal Arabic and minimal Japanese Areas of expertise: Local government, local politics, homelessness, mental health policy, campaign finance, California Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, County of Orange government, Santa Ana city government and municipal finance.
Officials announced the upcoming data release in response to a question from Voice of OC, which for nearly a week has been pressing county officials to disclose the number of people hospitalized for COVID and how many surge beds are being pursued.
Officials were preparing to for a 2 p.m. Monday news conference to start giving more data about their plans for a surge in people being hospitalized with COVID-19.
Officials cautioned that the risk of the virus is similar countywide, and that people should continue practicing social distancing everywhere.
The data is expected to be discussed at a 1:30 p.m. news conference. Health experts say the raw numbers likely are misleading, and that the public should be cautious about coronavirus everywhere.
The goal is to open three new types of shelter, though the timeline wasn’t clear.
It comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom cites the need for thousands of overflow beds statewide at places like fairgrounds, hotels, motels and convention centers.
County and state officials this week said their aim is to provide narrowly-targeted relief for people who are losing income from the public health shutdowns.
Officials announced at a 1:30 p.m. news conference Wednesday that the data will be posted on a county website starting Friday. The briefing comes after officials announced last night the first death in Orange County from COVID-19, of a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.
The goal, county health officials said, is for people to be able to enjoy beaches and trails for their physical and mental wellbeing, while keeping at least a six-foot distance to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Masks and ventilators are in short supply as hospitals prepare for a surge of coronavirus patients in the coming days and weeks, officials wrote in an update Monday.