How the omicron got to the East Bay

There’s a lot going on with COVID in the Bay Area. To rehash: Only 10 cases of the omicron variant have been confirmed in the state, including six from an outbreak in East Bay. Delta is still the dominant strain.

But here’s the latest – one, the outbreak of Alameda County coronavirus infections turned out to be among nearly a dozen fully vaccinated and boosted Kaiser employees who attended a wedding. out of state. Several of them were of the omicron variant.

Second, the first studies show milder symptoms in people with omicron infections, but a potential to be more transmissible than delta. Omicron is not yet as widespread as its previous variant, but researchers are finding more cases in California.

And third, all but one of the Bay Area counties have fallen back into “substantial” COVID transmission level as the community spread of the delta variant increases. (The last one, Marin, is in the high transmit level.)

Read more by Aidin Vaziri.

• Live Updates: The Chronicle has down to the minute information on COVID in the Bay Area.

• Listen: Health columnist Erin Allday and host Demian Bulwa discuss the urgency of the omicron variant on Fifth and Mission.

• Two parents from Marin County who knowingly sent their HIV positive children in school may be the subject of criminal charges.

• California Medical Board Chairman says COVID disinformation group has been harass his family.

The small town that could

While many cities have opposed California’s demand to build more housing, Emeryville is hoping to exceed expectations. It is one of the few municipalities in the Bay Area to attempt to qualify for a “housing-friendly city” designation under state law.

Nestled between the dense East Bay towns of Berkeley and Oakland, the Emeryville coastline has nearly doubled its population in 20 years as it hosts all kinds of development.

It’s not all sun and rainbows. But city officials are happy to applaud the space for affordable housing and the result of the city’s larger coffers, reinvested in the form of free city buses and a newly built school.

Read more by JK Dineen, who also joins Fifth and Mission to talk about the city’s ambitious housing plan.

What to eat

San Francisco and Oakland are prime places to try some of the best and newest restaurants in the Bay Area right now.

From a former chef at Lazy Bear comes Automat, a Western Addition restaurant where people can find freshly fried hot chicken sandwiches and focaccia-flavored pretzel buns. Reporters Janelle Bitker and Elena Kadvany break down five things you have to try his morning menu (More info on new bay area restaurants here.)

Across the bay, the Best day of my life The series continues with a sensory tour of Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood, where you can eat East African, Malaysian, and Korean food in just one day. Of course, there are plenty of stops for a drink along the way, including a bustling natural wine bar and succulent outdoor breweries.

Around the bay

• Utility bills: Garbage transporter will reimburse $ 6 million overbills to apartment residents in Oakland after a city settlement. More: California pays millions to cover unpaid water bills during the pandemic. But many households are facing closures as a moratorium expires in January.

• Shades of blue: Have you ever wondered which parts of San Francisco are the most progressive? This card shows how each neighborhood votes on local voting measures.

• Respond to the request : San Francisco Sheriff’s deputies on leave may earn overtime now to keep retail stores.

• Caldor’s Fire: A father-son duo who called 911 after spotting the fire in the Sierra were arrested for suspicion to light the fire.

• Parklet issues: The Mayor of London Breed has promised to delay execution on restaurant parking rules, but inspectors are hitting San Francisco restaurants with violations.

• California as a refuge: the state has established a roadmap for what will happen if it becomes an abortion haven, including a proposal to pay for procedures for out-of-state travelers.

• Scott Peterson case: The Modesto man who killed his wife and unborn child in 2002 was sentenced to life in prison without parole. His death sentence had been overturned.

• Comet Leonardo: The brightest ice ball of 2021 could be seen this weekend in the Bay Area night sky. Here is how to see it during its single passage.

• New classification: San Francisco was dropped from the list of the 5 least affordable US cities for real estate site owners this month. Here is what is happening.

Exodus? What exodus?

This year I did the opposite of what many did during the pandemic. I fled Texas and its natural disasters for the Bay Area’s higher rent.

For my part, I relished the chance to return to an area where its nightlife extends far beyond bars and clubs. The opportunities to enjoy nature are excellent. And the boba is better (sorry, Houston).

It turns out that there are dozens of us! Columnist Heather Knight found San Franciscans who moved into apartments here during COVID-19, drawn to the city’s fun spirit and diversity. These people are, in Knight’s words, “in the the pangs of young love with San Francisco.