Daily Business Report-March 30, 2020
Laura Riva, a postdoctoral research fellow at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, tests for compounds that may treat COVID-19. ( Photo courtesy of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute)
Biotech’s non-coronavirus work is taking a big hit
Voice of San Diego
Two San Diego biotech companies are speeding ahead on potential COVID-19 vaccines. But for many in the industry, going fast isn’t an option right now.
The fallout from the coronavirus has hit the region’s biotech cluster in the form of clinical trial disruptions, difficulties attracting venture capital, and certain drug research being suspended.
Downstream, some patients face delays in accessing medicines. As a high-profile example, hospitals have postponed infusions of a San Diego-hatched treatment for a muscle disease.
__________________________
What happens to science when
California researchers shelter in place?
California’s scientists are sheltering in place because of coronavirus restrictions, shutting down research, or switching to study the novel coronavirus.
CalMatters
As California officials desperately try to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Chris Miller is coaxing a sample of the virus to grow in a secure laboratory at UC Davis.
Working in a laboratory nestled inside containment rooms and cut off from the world by filters, scientists dressed in space suit-like protective gear are feeding cells to a virus isolated from a COVID-19 patient at UC Davis Medical Center.
The goal is to create a supply of viral genetic material to help the clinical pathology team develop new tests. Without these viral samples to provide an unequivocally positive result, researchers can’t tell if a test is truly working.
It’s a new mission for Miller, who, until about two weeks ago, was studying HIV and working to develop a pandemic flu vaccine. “Flu, at the time, seemed like the virus that was going to kill us all and was going to be the big pandemic,” Miller said. “But it seems like coronavirus has other plans.”
__________________________
Dudley’s Bakery expands operating
hours and seeks to hire more bakers
San Diego landmark Dudley’s Bakery has been working tirelessly to ensure freshly baked goods are available both at their original bakery as well as stores and markets.
The bakery is now open 7 days a week; Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; with special seniors-only shopping hours Monday and Thursday 8-9 a.m.
“We are grateful to have such an incredible team and the ability to meet the needs of our San Diego family,” said Lydia Bilic, Dudley’s Bakery co-owner and team member. “Generations of San Diegans have made Dudley’s part of their family tradition and we are proud to be able to serve our community in a time of need.”
Dudley’s will continue to support local charities as well as offer special discount to first responders and Health Care Workers. Any organizations or companies needing special deliveries to senior homes or others who might be impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to contact Dudley’s directly at (760) 765-4088.
Dudley’s Bakery is currently looking for experienced bakers to join its team; for information on available positions, call (760) 765-0488 or customerservice@dudleysbakery.com. The bakery is located at 30218 Highway 78 (Julian Road), Santa Ysabel 92070.
__________________________
Potential impact of COVID-19 on
employment in San Diego County
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing required to prevent its spread, workers in seven of the ten occupations with the most jobs in San Diego County are at high risk of immediate layoffs, reduced hours and/or long-term displacement.
That’s according to a report by Daniel Enemark, senior economist with the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
Report summary:
In the first three days of partial closures (March 16-18), Californians submitted 190,000 unemployment insurance claims—more than quadruple the weekly average—and the March 19 statewide order to shelter in place will bring more layoffs.
The economic consequences of the pandemic will be more severe for certain groups of workers. In the US from 2017-18, less than one-fifth of Hispanic and black workers had the option to work from home, while more than a third of white and Asian workers were allowed or able to do so. This suggests that COVID-19-related layoffs will likely do more economic harm to Hispanic and black workers. The same data suggest that younger, less-educated, lower-income and part-time workers are less likely to have the option to work from home. In other words, it is the least financially secure workers who are most at risk in the COVID-19 crisis.
Click here to read the full report.
__________________________
City attorney asks court to reinstate
injunction against Instacart
City Attorney Mara W. Elliott has petitioned the 4th District Court of Appeal to reinstate an injunction against Instacart, a multi-billion dollar grocery-delivery company that allegedly is misclassifying its employees as independent contractors.
The City Attorney’s Office took the extraordinary step to defend vulnerable Instacart employees who are expected to work during the COVID-19 pandemic without protections against the novel coronavirus. Instacart employees reportedly are not being provided with masks and gloves, let alone paid sick time, and workers compensation insurance, or unemployment benefits.
“At a time when delivery services are needed more than ever, Instacart must earn the public’s trust by protecting its employees and the customers whose food they touch,” Elliott said. “Health and safety is everyone’s first priority, and Instacart needs to step up, act responsibly, and follow the law.”
On February 18, 2020, a Superior Court judge enjoined Instacart from operating in San Diego until it hears the city attorney’s lawsuit alleging non-compliance with the worker classification standard established by the California Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court.
In granting the city attorney’s petition for a preliminary injunction, the court delayed the execution of its order to allow Instacart time to appeal. Later that same week the judge unilaterally stayed the order, allowing Instacart to continue operations despite the judge’s determination that it likely violates the law by classifying its employees as independent contractors and denying them the pay, benefits, and protections to which employees are entitled by state law.
__________________________
San Diego distilleries pivot to
start producing hand sanitizer
As the nation faces a shortage of essential supplies, distilleries around the country are stepping up and shifting their production from spirits to sanitizing agents. Several San Diego-based distilleries have already started making sanitizers, including Seven Caves, Cutwater Spirits, Misadventure & Co., and more.
Read more…
__________________________
Orucase begins manufacturing
face masks to combat coronavirus
Orucase, a San Diego manufacturer of cycling travel bags and accessories, has started retooling its production lines to manufacture face masks. The company has the capacity to make 500,000 a week and plans to begin shipping to medical teams in the U.S. and Mexico immediately.
