In his daily press briefing earlier today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced some important updates regarding the COVID situation.  Here is a summary of significant developments:

• The state has launched a new website, www.covid19.ca.gov, where California residents can locate testing sites and schedule testing. Currently, over 25,000 people are being tested per day.
• Newsom signed an executive order expanding workers’ compensation benefits to all sectors, and establishing a rebuttable presumption that any essential workers infected with COVID-19 contracted the virus on the job.  Employers may rebut the presumption only under strict criteria.  This order is retroactive to March 16 and will remain in effect through 60 days from today.
• The Governor will waive the 10% penalty for late payments on residential property taxes, and is working with counties to establish payment plans for people with hardships.  The penalty waiver has been extended through May 2021.

Tomorrow, the Governor will announce new guidelines for certain businesses to reopen.  We will follow up with details as they become available.