a developing story in the east bay. an officer now charged in the shooting death of a black man at a walmart store. the district attorney saying tonight the case is very clear cut. plus, new warnings about getting away for labor day weekend. there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. also ahead coronavirus outbreak at a santa rosa hospital. health officials insisting the public and workers are safe while employees suggest otherwise. plus the alameda county neighborhood seeing a lot of covid-19 and why it is so hard to make a dent. also, what a difference a month makes. there are new signs of progress with the virus. we thank you for joining us tonight. >> we begin in the east bay where a san leandro police officer involved in the shooting death of steven taylor has been charged. the alameda county da's office

announced it filed an involuntary manslaughter charge against officer jason fletcher. he shot and killed taylor on april 18th at a walmart. body camera footage released by the department shows taylor holding a bat moments before he was shot. the district attorney said an investigation determined officer fletcher first used a taser gun twice on taylor. she says taylor then pointed the bat at the ground and was stumbling. >> at the time of the shooting it was not reasonable to conclude mr. steven taylor posed an emnent threat of death or great bodily injury to either officer fletcher or to anyone else in the store. >> the second responding officer is back on duty. now to what could be a pivotal moment in the fight against covid-19. labor day weekend begins in 48 hours. it is going to be hot. people will want to have fun. the top leaders like the governor are saying now more than ever we need to be

vigilant. >> the importance this weekend of trying to avoid and minimize outside of your household mixing with different households and cohorts of individuals, strangers, even friends and extended family that you haven't seen or been with. >> remember memorial day weekend many people saw family and friends after weeks of isolation. weeks later cases of covid-19 spiked. then came the 4th of july. another excuse to get out and another summer spike. experts say it is only our behavior that will make labor day any different. more now from abc 7 news reporter lit nguyen. >> labor day is often referred to as the unofficial end of the summer season but with the ongoing pandemic -- >> it has really changed life. it is not the same anymore. >> reporter: some wonder how others plan to celebrate including this man. >> a lot of people are afraid to be around other people because you don't know who's infected and who's not. or who's been exposed and who

hasn't. >> reporter: nationwide cases went up following the memorial day and 4th of july weekends. in santa clara county, health officials are concerned about a potential spike if residents don't do their part in the coming days to reduce the risk. >> everything builds on itself and so the more cases you have then the more cases you'll have to fight to prevent later on. >> reporter: experts say the best thing for people to do is to stay at home. >> people really still need to be very, very careful. this is a very deadly virus. >> reporter: for those who decide to gather, doing it outdoors will be essential with proper social distancing and wearing face coverings. >> the outdoors, these small particles are defused fairly quickly usually by the free movement of air. and they're just diluted. whereas in the indoor environment these small particle aerosols have been shown to stay suspended in the air, you know, for up to three or four hours or so. >> reporter: if you are hosting an event at home a reminder to resist the urge to mingle with others in the kitchen or living room.

>> the question is do people feel vulnerable enough to control their impulses for safety's sake. and a lot of people it's just really hard if they don't feel that they are particularly vulnerable. >> reporter: each member of the community bearing personal responsibility. >> the virus is still here. it is still circulating widely. now is not the time to let your guard down. >> reporter: in santa clara county, abc 7 news. on the peninsula this labor day weekend some beaches will be closed while others are staying open. the city of pacifica decided to shut down its beaches to keep crowds away. while beaches in half moon bay will stay open, the mayor, the half moon bay mayor says it was a tough decision with the city council considering the needs and safety of cooped up residents and struggling businesses. he is asking people who come to half moon bay to please follow health regulations. governor newsom today said heo discussed renters and

people who are unemployed. those waiting for the $300 unemployment boost should be getting it this morngt. while most of california's counties remain in the purple tier meaning widespread covid-19 transmission there are still signs of significant progress in beating the virus. >> the last week we've seen a reduction in the total number of cases, covid-19 cases. >> reporter: this is a graph showing daily bay area covid cases since the start of the pandemic. one month aago during the summer surge the bay area saw well over a thousand new cases a day. the number is now down to 800. statewide we are seeing a similar trend. cases are going down and so is the positivity rate. the 14 day average is now 5.1%. earlier this summer it was over 7%. the current seven day average is even lower at 4.4%. hospitalizations and icu patients are also declining, both down 23% over the past two weeks. these numbers are a sign that slowing down the state's reopening has worked to once

again slow the spread. those measures also continue to take a toll on the economy. today newsom discussed his extension of eviction protections through february 1st. >> no evictions for rent nonpayment related to covid-19 through february, 2021. >> reporter: those who have lost income due to the pandemic can fill out a covid-19 declaration through the state. those who have the means are asked to make some payment toward rent, about 25%. >> again, we're not only supporting renters. we want to be very sensitive to the needs particularly of small property owners. >> reporter: the governor also announced the state would be using $600 million to purchase hotels, motels, and apartment buildings by the for support of homeless housing. he gave a date when people will get the additional $300 unemployment boost. >> september 10th getting that $300 drawn down getting that system up and running, which is foundational. it's billions and billions and billions of dollars in the hands

of people that really need it. >> reporter: while california overall continues to see declines in positive rates from covid testing some bay area communities are lagging behind still dealing with case numbers that are far too high. that includes oakland's fru fruitvale district where 10% tested are still coming up positive. laura anthony shows us what is being done to bring down the numbers. >> you can't control an epidemic if you don't know who has it. >> reporter: this man is on the front lines of the covid fight at a testing site in fruitvale, a bay area hot bed for the virus with a positivity rate more than twice the state average. >> especially since the wild fires though. it has been harder to get more people through the door per se to come and get tested. we're slowly seeing it come back up. >> we're getting close to 10% of the people testing positive. >> reporter: this man works with a population that includes many construction and service

workers. they cannot do their jobs from home. >> we are seeing a lot of families, a lot of elders from the senior homes as well as a lot of the new immigrant families that come with documentation. >> reporter: for many here there is fear not just of the virus but showing up for a test could pull them too far oust tt of th shadows. >> one of the biggest reservations is they don't want to get tested because if i go get tested do they need my information, documentation? secondly, if i test positive, what do i do? where do i go? who takes care of me? >> reporter: this councilman is among spreading the word that people will not be asked for immigration status when they go for a test. beyond that volunteers are offering food, free masks, sanitizer. whatever residents here need to make it through these tough times. anecdotally at least those on the ground say things do see to be improving here in the fruitvale, that people are more comfortable getting tested and

seeking services. kareem williams became homeless right when the pandemic started. >> it is hard for all of us out here. this is a great neighborhood fruitvale to west oakland through east oakland but with the unity we can kill the virus. >> reporter: in oakland, laura anthony, abc 7 news. in santa rosa tonight both labor and emotional strife continue at a county hospital where staffers have contracted covid-19 all while working without a contract. as abc 7 news reporter wayne freedman reports, each crisis has put pressure on the other. >> reporter: precautions began as soon as anyone enters the lobby at santa rosa memorial hospital. visitors answer questions and get their temperatures checked but these measures have not kept covid-19 from getting inside. in the past few weeks it has infected nurses and technicians. 17 at last count the ceo told us. >> what we know now is it is isolated and under control, and we're on the right path here. >> reporter: but tonight staff members still feel the hospital

could have done better. among them nursing assistant diana luna mirandaa who tested positive this week. >> i know i was exposed to two patients that we didn't know they had it. >> reporter: diana works in a medical surge unit where the concentration of infections began at least two weeks ago. today staffers told abc 7 news they felt the hospital should have communicated better and tested sooner. >> are they testing us -- they are testing us now. they're doing that now. >> reporter: when did that begin? >> last week. >> when did the outbreak begin? >> people have been complaining about getting sick since the beginning of this month. >> reporter: meaning august. all of this against the backdrop of a prolonged union negotiation that has left many without contracts for more than a year. during a one week strike in july they made a point of asking for better protective measures. w h

services, house keeping staff that are having to clean covid patients' rooms and being denied essential ppe. >> reporter: santa rosa memorial insists it remains safe for both patients and workers. as for the 17 cases? >> we know that there are other hospitals that have had similar outbreaks. we are by no means alone in this battle. we know that this is a very contagious disease. >> we are worried. we are scared that, you know, we can get sick and we can take this home to our families, our grandparents, our children. >> reporter: in santa rosa, abc 7 news. now to the wildfires. the steady progress being made, the lightning complex is now 72% contained. full containment is expected tomorrow. the lnu in napa, sonoma, lake, and solano counties is 76% contained. the czu fires in santa cruz and san mateo counties, that one is

46% contained. north bay fire victims are encouraged to visit assistance centers in solano county at 2001 valley parkway in vacaville. there is this tribute for firefighters in santa cruise. the hat has been there but the firefighter's jacket and pants have been added since the fires began. all right. still ahead the future of restaurants in san francisco. the road map to reopening seems to be filled with potholes. the new push to cover up in san francisco and who is being targeted to ensure they get the message. plus, face masks or face shields? the new study on how well they stop

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permanently closing. tommy's joint was vandalized last weekend and the buzz on social media suggests it may be added to the list of the city's 1300 restaurants not coming back. but as abc 7 news reporter explains, it is still hanging on. >> reporter: tommy's joint, a staple for a good supper, still sits quiet along geary. reviews online suggest the san francisco landmark is gone for good. the owner tells abc 7 despite butting heads with the rules they're not giving up and neither e their fans. >> it is always fun to come in here. >> it would be a shame if they were shut down. but i think that is kind of the new trend right now. >> reporter: a trend that sadly is only getting worse. a new study published found that sales at restaurants across the city have plunged by 91% since

march. more than half the restaurants report no sales at all. that means roughly 1300 have temporarily closed or are gone for good. this man is getting close to that point. he is tired of the waiting game. >> we just need to know. we need to know when or at or at have a remote idea. >> reporter: he owns barbacco and perbacco in the financial district. after the announcement indicating the potential for indoor dining he thought he had a chance. >> we had something to look forward to. and then yesterday it was just the sky coming down. >> reporter: a burning feeling that his restaurant will stay empty permanently. how much longer realistically can you make it doing it like this? >> three months? six months? at the most really. if nothing happens we'll all be closed. >> reporter: most restaurants need 70% of their seats to break

even. the golden gate restaurant association says for restaurants here in san francisco that certainly won't happen before the end of the year. and many won't be able to with stand the wait. abc 7 news. san francisco mayor london breed is asking residents to follow safety protocols ahead of the labor day holiday weekend to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. >> in addition to keeping our friends and our families safe wearing a mask is one of the most significant things we can do to help keep reopening san francisco. >> mayor breed was joined by community leaders to announce a new campaign today aimed at reinforcing face coverings and social distancing proes way to stay safe is to stay home but if you do go out she says to not share food or drinks and wear your masks. >> three, two, one. >> look at this. a new study from florida atlantic university is revealing the ineffectiveness of face

shields to protect against the sprefd the disease. in this video researchers used a water and glycerine mixture to simulate a cough or sneeze. during simulation droplets were seen escaping from the visor of a face shield. droplets also escaped on masks with the exhalation valves. researchers recommend wearing a mask if you choose to wear a face shield. we're in for a big

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and even some much-needed savings. that was the easy part. usaa insurance is made the way liz and mike need it- easy. good evening everyone. we are seeing a change in the air. take a look at the winds right now coming off the northwest and we are seeing the breeze picking up to 20 miles an hour in san francisco. it has certainly changed up our air quality across the region. it is actually better for most areas. moderate air quality right now san jose to fremont, oakland. around the santa cruz mountains

a combination of green and yellow. good to moderate there. we don't have the unhealthy air quality along the mend sinno coast like we've been seeing for so many days so definitely an improvement. live doppler 7 showing fog touching parts of the coast. the rest of you in the clear. you can see why the spare the air continues. there is still some haze in the air. smoke impacts continue tomorrow. moderate to poor air quality for your thursday. friday we are expecting moderate air quality. here is a live look from our camera. a beautiful blue sky. 63 in the city. #please 0 oakland. 73 san jose. temperatures very close to yesterday. 63 in half moon bay. numbers ranged from the mid 60s to the mid 80s. hazy skies from our east bay hills camera. here is a look at those temperatures. low to mid 70s from santa rosa to napa. 82 fairfield. 80 concord. a lovely view from our emeryville camera. yesterday you couldn't even see downtown oakland. it is much better right now

obviously. here is a look at the forecast. mix of fog and smoke overnight tonight. spare the air again tomorrow. we are looking at excessive heat for your labor day weekend. that is why an excessive heat watch has been posted from 11:00 a.m. saturday until 9:00 p.m. monday. there is going to be a higher risk of heat related illness like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. definitely watch out. virtually all of the bay area covered with the exception of the coast and the bay. as you check out those temperatures for your saturday, triple digits inland. still in the 60s coast side. sunday it really gets hot. dangerously hot. when we're talking 108 in antioch, that is hot. low to mid 70s coast side. as we head into labor day you are going to still have the triple digit sizzle inland. coast side in the upper 60s to the low 70s. now to the short term forecast we'll have the fog filling back in. the usual pattern. tomorrow morning 5:00 to 8:00 a.m. may see a little mist and drizzle. the fog peels back. most of you will be seeing sun.

tomorrow morning temperatures from the mid 50s to the low 60s. fog, haze, and even some spotty drizzle for the afternoon. 68 in the city. 73 in oakland. getting up to 82 san jose. 75 san rafael. upper 70s santa rosa. upper 80s around concord and livermore. accu weather seven day forecast another hazy day with a spare the air. warmer weather for your friday. and the heat for the holiday weekend triple digits inland. 60s, 70s coast side. next week slowly seeing a break by mid week. >> all right. here we go again. not quite as long it looks like. thank you. all right. still ahead the joy of fishing. until you catch something you can't touch. that story when abc 7 news at 5:00 returns.

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coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00, only two months until the election. could we have a coronavirus vaccine by then? new at 6:00 an infectious disease expert at stanford weighed in. there are calls for an audit of the edd. michael finney has been looking into problems with unemployment claims and will join us live. hear from house speaker nancy pelosi as she addresses why she went into a san francisco salon to get her hair done. it's against the rules. coming up in half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. finally tonight, fishing has become more popular as people try to social distance and still get outside and recommend rate. >> but one fisherman reeled in something he probably hopes to never catch again. >> when you've been a fishing guide on the sacramento river for over 15 years, chances are you probably have hooked everything the river can offer. >> we've caught lawn chairs. >> reporter: nothing could prepare john kenyan for what he would pull out of the water over

the weekend. >> got the line up and right to the boat and realized, my father-in-law was like, it's a bomb. get everyone to the front of the boat. >> reporter: the home made pipe bomb was reeled in near the mouth of battle creek on the sacramento river. as kenyan waited for the sheriff's office to arrive a fisherman nearby called out from the river. >> we seen him hook something and it was actually, he yelled at me, john, we just hooked another bomb. >> reporter: the shasta county bomb squad later confirmed both items to be live pipe bombs and they were destroyed on site. kenyan thinks his run-in with the bombs could be from other fishermen trying to cut corners. >> i think they are probably trying to blow up the salmon and knock them out and have them float up and then take them. that's what i think. >> reporter: the county sheriff's office is advising fishermen in the area to be careful. it is unknown if other devices are still caln below. >> that's scary. >> very. all right. thanks for joining us. "world news tonight with david

muir" is next. >> for all of us here thanks for joining us. we'll see you again

tonight, the cdc's surprising letter to local health officials. be ready to distribute a coronavirus vaccine by november 1st. all states put on notice, prepare for a possible vaccine just before election day. the letter raising concerns the trump administration may be trying to politicize a vaccine. tonight, growing outbreaks raising concerns at schools and college campuses. images of hallways packed with children, and now, an even bigger problem. some colleges sending infected students home. health officials say that's exactly what not to do. pandemic politics shaping the race for 2020. joe biden zeroing in on president trump's handling of the outbreak, calling it a failure, including the lack of a national plan to reopen america's schools.