KQED's Forum

Census 2020 outreach in California was already going to be a challenge, but even more so now with the coronavirus outbreak. The state's "shelter in place" order puts a stop to face-to-face interactions typically needed to reach hard-to-count populations such as immigrants or those experiencing homelessness. Census data determines federal funding for social services and political representation in Congress. We'll check in on how census efforts are going so far ahead of April 1 Census Day and take your questions on completing the census.

As April approaches, tenants whose incomes have dwindled during the state's "shelter in place" order still have to come up with monthly rent while landlords and homeowners still have mortgage payments due. Some elected officials have called for a moratorium on evictions and for landlords to freeze rental payments. Four of the nation's five largest banks have agreed to delay mortgage payments and suspend foreclosures for California homeowners for up to 90 days. That has left many people dealing with fear and uncertainty about their housing costs. We discuss how coronavirus has impacted the housing market and what relief and resources are available to landlords and tenants.

Last week, the World Health Organization launched a multinational clinical trial to investigate four potential coronavirus treatments, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. Meanwhile, some pharmaceutical companies and start-ups, including several in the Bay Area, are also initiating trials. We'll talk about the status of efforts to find an effective COVID-19 treatment and the challenges associated with bringing a therapy to market in time to stem the pandemic.

More than 3 million people across the country filed for unemployment benefits in the past week, the most in US history. In California, more than one million claims were filed in less than two weeks. We'll talk about what benefits are available to Californians who are out of work and what the massive drop in employment means for the state and national economies.

If you see someone walking toward you on a sidewalk do you cross the street? Do you correct a stranger for coughing into their hand instead of a tissue?  What seemed rude a month ago may now be prudent in the new, odd age of social distancing. We want to hear your experiences navigating this awkward time and we'll take your questions about how to practice social distancing safely and effectively.

As California officials scramble to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, advocates are questioning whether enough is being done to protect thousands of people incarcerated in state prisons. So far, one inmate and nine correctional staff have tested positive for the virus. State prisons are already overcrowded with prisoners sharing close quarters. Some inmates tend not to speak up when they are sick for fear of being sent to solitary confinement. We talk with the former head of the state's prison system about why he calls it a "tinderbox of potential infection."

California has conducted nearly 67,000 tests for coronavirus, Governor Newsom said at a press conference Wednesday.  He added that the state will soon get a delivery of 150,000 testing kits, but that it’s still insufficient.  With some test results taking up to nine days, efforts are also underway to get results faster.  We’ll hear why California is still behind on testing and what’s being done to test more people, faster.

"The window to win this war is about seven to 14 days." That's according to bioethicist and health policy expert Ezekiel Emanuel, who in a New York Times op-ed this week argued that the federal government needs to immediately escalate efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic by imposing national shelter-in-place rules, employing the military to administer COVID-19 tests and ordering all hospitals to suspend elective surgeries. With those and other measures, he says Americans might be able to return to normal life within three to four months. We'll talk to Dr. Emanuel about his prescription for containing the coronavirus and get his thoughts on the pending $2 trillion federal stimulus bill.

Boredom, anxiety, disappointment in missing milestones like prom and graduation -- these are some of the feelings California's high school students say they're experiencing while schools remain closed as part of the state's shelter in place order. We'll check in with students to find out how they're coping with home school, social distancing and the uncertainty of the near future.

President Trump said during a Fox News town hall Tuesday that he wants the nation "opened up and just raring to go by Easter," which falls on April 12. His statement came as California coronavirus cases rose above 2500 and as New York state announced that its case count is doubling every three days. We'll talk about best quarantining and physical distancing practices as the pandemic spreads and take your questions.