Check back here for the latest news on the coronavirus and its impacts around Santa Cruz County. The most recent updates are added at the top.
Click here for continuing in-depth coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic.
May 26, 3:30pm: In-person meetings come back; service industry struggles
In case you missed Monday’s story, several public boards and city councils are planning to transition back to in-person meetings.
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, for example, anticipates returning to in-person gatherings on June 9. For other local boards and councils, such as the County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz City Council, however, the timeline is still unclear.
Several introduced bills could prolong virtual meetings even after in-person activities resume. Assembly Bill 339, for example, would require that Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors continue to provide virtual access to meetings through Dec. 31, 2023.
Good Times also covered the challenges facing the service industry as businesses prepare to fully reopen on June 15. At the beginning of the pandemic, restaurants, hospitality establishments and other businesses within the service industry were forced into mass layoffs to stay afloat. Now, these same businesses are struggling to replenish their staff as the economy reopens. An increase in demand for services and a labor shortage pose significant challenges to already-struggling businesses.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 206 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,177 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 85 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,675,817 Covid-19 cases and 61,824 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 29,732 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 36,511,557 doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the yellow tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
May 24, 1pm: New vaccine resources for employers
In an effort to make vaccines more accessible to working Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the new Employer Vaccination Toolkit in a press release on Thursday. This resource will provide employers with vaccination education materials, information on Covid-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave and other guidance for employees along with an online form to request vaccination support.
“Anyone who wants to should be able to get vaccinated,” Newsom said in the press release. “That’s why we’re working with employers to make it easier to access Covid-19 vaccines—so no one misses their shot at protecting themselves and their communities.”
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 206 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,173 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 85 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,674,044 Covid-19 cases and 61,762 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 295,943 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and more than 36 million doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the yellow tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
May 19, 3pm: Santa Cruz Moves to Yellow Tier
In case you missed yesterday’s story, Santa Cruz County has transitioned to the Yellow Tier starting today due to the low number of Covid-19 cases. The looser restrictions include:
- Bars may open indoors at 25% capacity, or 50% if customers show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination or negative test;
- Indoor music venues may increase to 50% capacity with proof of vaccination or negative test;
- Outdoor performance venues, including music, sporting events and theater, may increase to two-thirds capacity;
- Saunas and steam rooms may open at 50% capacity;
- Family entertainment centers (bowling alleys, arcades, etc.) may increase to 50%, or 75% with proof of vaccination or a negative test;
- Gyms may increase to 50% capacity;
- Amusement parks may increase to 35% capacity.
On June 15, the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy will be dropped altogether, allowing normal operations to resume. Fully vaccinated people will also no longer need to be masked indoors on that date.
The California Department of Health plans to keep its present masking guidance until June 15. In response, the Association for Bay Area Health Officials declared its strong support for this strategy in a press release today.
Vaccines maximize protection against illness and death from Covid-19, and nearly half of the state’s eligible population is vaccinated, they noted. However, there is still a large portion of the population that remains unprotected.
“This next month is our chance to further increase vaccination rates. Wear your mask now, so we can get to June 15 together,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said in the press release.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 206 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,275 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 84 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,667,550 Covid-19 cases and 61,555 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 287,422 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 35,091,346 doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
May 17, 1:30pm: Vaccine eligibility extends to youth 12-15
Youth ages 12-15 are now eligible to sign up for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making it available for 2.1 million more Californians. Parents and guardians can make an appointment using the statewide booking system or by calling California’s Covid-19 hotline at 1-833-422-4255.
“Young people have shouldered a significant burden during this pandemic,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly in a press release. “We look forward to now providing protection for this group to return to activities, especially as we look forward to the state fully reopening on June 15.”
In other news, Santa Cruz Community Health is partnering with the Diversity Center to host its first vaccine clinic for all LGBTQ+ people age 16 and older. The clinic will take place Friday, May 21, from 1:30-5:30pm at the Diversity Center parking lot. To sign up for a free appointment—which is required to receive a vaccine—interested people can call 831-454-4242 or sign up online.
In case you missed it last week, Santa Cruz County Health officials are surprised about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent announcement that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks. Although they are worried this may cause some confusion—especially given California’s masking mandate currently still remains—overall they are supportive of the CDC’s decision.
As California residents continue to get vaccinated and Covid-19 cases drop to a record-low, they feel that the recommendation “makes sense.”
The California Department of Public Health said in a press release today it will follow the CDC guidelines, starting on the target economic reopening date of June 15.
“After June 15, California plans to implement the CDC’s guidelines around masking to allow fully vaccinated Californians to go without a mask in most indoor settings,” CDPH said in its press release.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 206 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,275 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 84 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,665,904 Covid-19 cases and 61,510 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 284,606 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 34,536,581 doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
May 12, noon: Local groups work to make vaccine more accessible
Community Bridges has teamed up with Salud Para La Gente to help make vaccines more accessible in Santa Cruz County. Through Community Bridges’ Bridges to Access Vaccine Helpline, staff and volunteers are helping community residents sign up for an appointment at Salud Para La Gente’s vaccine clinics.
“By making the process as simple, painless and easy as possible, we are eliminating the barriers caused by technological access and language,” said Community Bridges CEO Raymon Cancino in a press release.
Anyone interested and eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine in the tri-county area can contact:
Community Bridges’ Bridges to Access Vaccine Helpline
Phone: 831-219-8607
Language Services: Spanish, English
A team member will return phone calls within 48 hours.
or
Salud Para La Gente
Texting Service: Send the text VAX to 831-728-0222
Phone: 831-728-0222, option 7
Language Services: Spanish, Mixteco, English
In other news, Gov. Gavin Newsom told Fox 11 Los Angeles that California’s mask mandate will largely go away after June 15, when the state is planned to fully reopen. Masks will only continue to be required in crowded indoor spaces or in settings where people from all over the world are convening.
“Otherwise, we’ll make guidance, recommendations but no mandates,” Newsom said.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 205 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,246 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 101 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,658,198 Covid-19 cases and 61,305 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 273,025 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 33,118,249 doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
May 10, 1pm: CPDH continues outreach efforts
In honor of Mother’s Day, the California Department of Public Health is continuing to encourage state residents to get vaccinated through its “Let’s Get to ImmUnity” campaign. The most recent efforts are in Spanish and target California’s Latinx community. In addition to four billboards in high-traffic areas in Los Angeles, the campaign includes statewide social media posts featuring dialogues between mothers and their children.
“As families across the state celebrate our mothers and mother-figures, we also want to take the time to remind people that getting vaccinated is the best way to ensure we can safely gather,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, director and state public health officer in a press release.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 205 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,238 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 110 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,655,922 Covid-19 cases and 61,241 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 270,012 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 32,669,323 doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
May 5, 1:30pm: Trying new approaches
As an increasing number of Californians continue to get vaccinated, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in a press release on Tuesday new strategies to reach the state’s hard-to-reach communities.
“Over 30 million shots are in arms & it’s going to take some new approaches to reach those who haven’t yet been vaccinated,” he tweeted.
Newsom has teamed up with former California governors Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pete Wilson to create a PSA encouraging the state’s residents to get vaccinated, which can be viewed here. In addition, California is shifting its focus from mass vaccination clinics to more targeted outreach in the hardest hit communities.
Newsom has announced seven new and revamped vaccine equity strategies, including:
- More Transparency on Vaccination Progress: The state’s covid19.ca.gov website now displays data on California’s progress in vaccinating groups and communities with the most urgent need.
- ‘Get Out the Vaccine’ Phone Bank and Door-Knocking Campaign: A new state “Get Out the Vaccine” effort coordinates with 70 community-based organizations to employ callers and door-knockers to help Californians make a plan to get vaccinated. The program, now underway, has already resulted in more than 4,900 appointments scheduled.
- Partnering with Philanthropic Organizations to Enhance Support for Community Organizations: California is expanding its public-private partnerships to support community-based organizations (CBOs), bringing the total amount of funding to $85.7 million and aiding a total of 480 organizations to date.
- Grants to Support Vaccination Equity: California is now making available an additional $34.2 million in funding for underserved and high-risk communities throughout California’s other counties.
- Localized Plans for Promoting Equity in Vaccination: Along with statewide strategies, leaders of each of California’s 61 local health jurisdictions working in partnership with the state’s third-party administrator, Blue Shield of California, created and submitted plans to the state to promote vaccination equity in their communities.
- At-Home Vaccination Program: Services for homebound residents are expanding statewide and individuals unable to leave their home to get vaccinated may also indicate as such via myturn.ca.gov or contact the state’s CA COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255 to be connected with their local health jurisdiction to arrange for in-home vaccination service.
- Free Transportation to Vaccine Appointments: Individuals who do not have a means of transportation can receive free transportation through myturn.ca.gov or by contacting the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255
Furthermore, the California Department of Public Health has declared that fully vaccinated people may remove masks outdoors unless in crowded outdoor gatherings such as live performances, according to a press release from the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency on Tuesday. Unvaccinated people should continue to wear face coverings outdoors, and everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should continue wearing masks in indoor settings outside of their homes.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 205 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,023 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 124 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,646,729 Covid-19 cases and 60,862 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 255,950 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and more than 31 million doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
May 3, 2:30pm: State makes vaccination push
In an effort to encourage more residents to get vaccinated, the California Department of Public Health recently released two short TV advertisements, the department announced on Friday.
The ads, titled “This Moment” and “Cambiar,” are a part of the state’s “Let’s Get to ImmUnity” public education campaign. “This Moment” celebrates the momentum being created through individuals who are making the decision to get vaccinated, while “Cambiar,” or “Change,” is directed at the state’s Latinx community.
“This public education campaign reminds Californians they have the control, the power, and the responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health and state public health officer.
One in three Californians age 16 and older are fully vaccinated, and over half of the state’s residents are at least partially vaccinated.
“California has now administered over 30 MILLION vaccines,” Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted on Sunday. On Monday, he tweeted: “Hospitalizations in CA are now at an ALL TIME LOW since the start of the pandemic.”
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 205 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 16,017 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 135 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,643,992 Covid-19 cases and 60,793 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 251,888 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 30,501,711 doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
April 28, 12:30pm: State reaches low positivity rate
At just 1.2%, California’s Covid-19 positivity rate has dropped to the lowest it’s been in a year, the Office of the Governor of California tweeted on Monday.
On Tuesday, the governor’s office also tweeted its support for the CDC’s new recommendation that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in certain outside settings.
“Over 50% of Californians 16+ have at least 1 dose. The future is bright,” the tweet concludes. “Get vaccinated.”
In addition, California will be the first state to send lifesaving oxygen supplies to India as the country struggles with a catastrophic spike in Covid-19 cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in a press release on Monday.
“As we surpass 28 million vaccinations and continue to see the lowest positivity rates in the country, we must meet this moment with compassion by aiding those that are hardest hit by this pandemic,” Newsom said in the press release.
The US Agency for International Development will coordinate the supply distribution. Health care providers and frontline workers will receive the supplies directly.
Locally, homebound and unvaccinated residents of Santa Cruz County who are interested in receiving a Covid-19 vaccine through a home visit by a medical professional are encouraged by the county to fill out Santa Cruz County Public Health’s homebound vaccination survey, the agency announced in a press release on Monday. The survey is available at santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine in English and Spanish. This survey will help Public Health assess vaccine needs for homebound individuals.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 204 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,929 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 147 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,634,778 Covid-19 cases and 60,273 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 240,042 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and more than 29 million doses administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
Santa Cruz County remains in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
April 26, 11:30am: Bay Area to resume Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The region will resume administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Bay Area Health Officers announced in a joint statement on Sunday.
The development of a clotting disorder after the vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is extremely rare—among the almost 8 million vaccines delivered, there have only been 15 confirmed cases of clotting.
The region’s health officers, including those in Santa Cruz County, also said they support the addition of a warning label and the Western States Scientific Safety Review’s recommendation to make culturally and linguistically appropriate informational materials available in an accessible reading level.
Since Santa Cruz County moved into the Orange Tier on March 31, it has now met the state requirement for staying in a tier for three weeks before being eligible to move to a less-restrictive tier. If the county meets the thresholds for moving from the current oranger tier of the state’s reopening plan to the yellow tier, here’s some of what you’ll see change:
- Private events outdoors can have up to 200 people
- Fitness centers can open indoors with modifications at 50% capacity
- Restaurants can open indoors with modifications at 50% capacity
- Wineries, breweries and distilleries can open indoors with modifications at 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer
- Family entertainment centers can open at 50% capacity, or 75% capacity if all guests show proof of full vaccination
See the full comparison of tier openings here. To find out more about what’s currently open and closed, visit: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 204 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,831 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 144 are known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,631,740 Covid-19 cases and 60,203 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 236,116 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 11,622,180 administered statewide. All California residents age 16 and older are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about the vaccine and how to schedule an appointment.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
April 19, 2pm: Half of eligible Californians have received vaccine
Half of all California residents age 16 and above have been administered at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the California Department of Health announced in a press release on Friday.
“This historic milestone is a wonderful sign that Californians understand Covid-19 vaccinations are safe and effective and that our entire state is committed to getting to immunity,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, state public health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, in the press release. “Vaccinations are our best tool to ending the Covid-19 pandemic, and we will continue to ensure that every Californian who is old enough to get the vaccine has access to one.”
As of Thursday, all Calfornians 16 and older became eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Appointments can be made at myturn.ca.gov. So far, there have been 215,661 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 25,790,401 administered statewide.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 203 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,615 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 148 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,618,695 Covid-19 cases and 59,772 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
April 14, 10:30am: California temporarily halts J&J vaccine usage
California will temporarily pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, the state’s Department of Public Health announced on Tuesday in a press release.
“Of over 6.8 million doses administered nationally, there have been six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot with symptoms occurring 6 to 13 days after vaccination,” state epidemiologist Dr. Erika Pan said in the press release. Because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine accounts for less than 4% of California’s vaccine allocation this week, she does not expect a significant impact to vaccine administration.
That’s a sentiment echoed locally, with Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin saying the pause of the single-dose inoculation is not expected to significantly slow the county’s Covid-19 vaccination efforts.
“Vaccines are still overwhelmingly safe,” Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted. “We’re vaccinated 3+ million people a week and are still on track to fully reopen 6/15.”
Vaccination eligibility opens tomorrow for all California residents age 16 and older. The vaccine is free regardless of immigration status or insurance. The state is encouraging people to visit vaccinateall58.com to learn more about how to schedule an appointment.
So far, there have been 197,912 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 23,760,123 administered statewide.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 202 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,432 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 168 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,606,882 Covid-19 cases and 59,372 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
April 12, 2:30pm: State launches public education campaign
The California Department of Public Health is introducing new outreach measures for encouraging Covid-19 vaccinations among Black and African American communities.
This targeted outreach is part of a larger campaign, “Let’s Get to ImmUnity,” launched statewide last month to offer answers and reassurance that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, effective and our greatest tool to end the pandemic. The goal of this new tailored outreach is to connect with the Black and African American community by taking a listening-first approach to understand their concerns, partnering with trusted Black and African American leaders, and using culturally resonant content.
“Data shows that Covid-19 disproportionately impacts Black and African American communities in terms of severity, mortality, and economics. These communities are also being vaccinated at disproportionately low rates,” said Tomás Aragón, CDPH director and state public health officer in a press release on Thursday. “We designed this campaign to speak to the understandable, culturally-specific concerns and questions surrounding the vaccine of Black and African American communities.”
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 202 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,394 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 170 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,602,827 Covid-19 cases and 59,249 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 192,413 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 22,974,654 administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
April 7, 1pm: Reaching the hardest-hit communities
Four million California residents in some of the state’s hardest-hit communities have received their vaccinations, the California Department of Public Health announced in a press release on Tuesday.
“Our vaccine equity focus remains the right thing to do and ensures we are having the greatest impact in reducing transmission, protecting our health care delivery system and saving lives,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency, in the press release.
Because these areas have seen some of the highest transmission rates in the state, this is an important step toward slowing the spread of the virus and reopening California.
ICYMI, Gov. Gavin Newsom also announced on Tuesday that California plans to fully reopen on June 15. The state will continue to require masking and encourage Californians to get vaccinated. Reopening is contingent on the requirements that the vaccine supply is sufficient for all California residents 16 and older and that hospitalization rates are stable and low.
“With more than 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it is time to turn the page on our tier system and begin looking to fully reopen California’s economy,” Newsom said in the press release. “We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic. We will need to remain vigilant, and continue the practices that got us here—wearing masks and getting vaccinated—but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”
California has the lowest Covid-19 case rate of any state in the country. Once the economy fully reopens, the state will forgo its “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” and color-tiered reopening system.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 202 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,283 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 177 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials. The total number of cases recorded in the county decreased during recent data cleaning, as noted here.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,586,059 Covid-19 cases and 58,659 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 173,624 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 20,641,692 administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pmMonday through Friday.
April 5, 4pm: Vaccine eligibility expands to those 50+, Newsom vaccinated
On April 1, all California residents age 50 and older became eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Among those vaccinated following the expanded eligibility was Gov. Gavin Newson, who received the Johnson & Johnson at a vaccination site in South Los Angeles.
“Getting vaccinated is a vital step we can take to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community, and brings us that much closer to ending this pandemic,” Newsom said in a press release. “I am proud to receive the vaccine today as we open eligibility to more Californians while keeping our focus on making sure those in our hardest-hit communities are able to easily access this life-saving vaccine. While supplies are currently limited, our statewide network of providers is ready to meet the growing demand and we look forward to vaccine allocations dramatically increasing in the months ahead.”
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly and Government Operations Agency Secretary Yolanda Richardson joined Newsom in receiving their vaccines.
All eligible residents can book their vaccine appointment by using myturn.ca.gov or calling 1-833-422-4255. So far, there have been 168,253 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 19,894,885 administered statewide.
Although an increasing number of Californians are getting vaccinated, the state urges residents to continue taking safety precautions like wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 200 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,247 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 175 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials. The total number of known cases is down slightly from what was displayed on the county health dashboard last week after “data cleaning.”
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,582,463 Covid-19 cases and 58,534 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 31, 2:30pm: Orange tier starts today
Effective today, Santa Cruz County has moved into the orange tier, allowing for further lifting of economic restrictions. Additional information about the new changes can be found in yesterday’s post.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 200 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,363 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 188 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,568,426 Covid-19 cases and 57,936 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 153,528 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 18,023,603 administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 30, 12:30pm: Move to orange tier tomorrow
Santa Cruz County will move to the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan tomorrow, the county confirmed in a press release today.
The orange tier status that takes effect Wednesday, March 31, will mean retail can operate at full capacity. Restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters and museums can increase indoor operations to 50% capacity.
Here are other changes that will come starting tomorrow:
- Bars, breweries and distilleries will be allowed to resume outdoor operations
- Wineries may resume indoor operations at 25% capacity or 100 people (whichever is fewer)
- Gyms and fitness centers may increase indoor capacity 25%
- Indoor pools may open
- Amusement parks, indoor entertainment centers like bowling alleys, and live-audience outdoor events may open with modifications
On Thursday, April 1, amusement parks may allow in-state visitors, with capacity limited to 25%. As we reported yesterday, a limited number of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk rides will reopen beginning April 1. Reservations are open through April 11 and can be made at beachboardwalk.com.
“While transmission rates locally look positive and the County remains a leader in per capita vaccinations within the state, coronavirus cases are increasing globally and the B.1.1.7 variant has recently been found within Santa Cruz County,” the county noted in its press release today. “Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents are advised to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing while in public.”
For more details on the orange tier of the state’s reopening plan, visit covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
March 29, 3pm: Boardwalk plans to reopen
A limited number of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk rides will reopen beginning April 1. Because park capacity is limited, the Boardwalk strongly encourages California residents to make an online reservation before arrival. Reservations are open now through April 11 and can be made at beachboardwalk.com.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 200 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,354 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 198 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,564,468 Covid-19 cases and 57,778 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 149,144 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 17,356,911 administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the red tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 25, noon: State expands vaccine eligibility
All California adults age 50 and older will be eligible for a vaccine starting April 1, and everyone age 16 and older will be eligible starting April 15, the state announced today.
The shift in eligibility comes as the state expects the supply of vaccines to significantly increase in coming weeks. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden said all U.S. adults should be made eligible for a vaccine no later than May 1.
“With vaccine supply increasing and by expanding eligibility to more Californians, the light at the end of the tunnel continues to get brighter,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press release. “We remain focused on equity as we extend vaccine eligibility to those 50 and over starting April 1, and those 16 and older starting April 15. This is possible thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration and the countless public health officials across the state who have stepped up to get shots into arms.”
Watch Newsom’s full press conference from earlier today here.
So far, there have been 15,979,099 vaccine doses administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
In Santa Cruz County, 200 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,258 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 202 are known active cases, according to information last updated Wednesday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,553,307 Covid-19 cases and 57,091 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County is in the red tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 22, 3:30pm: Virus variant confirmed locally
The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division is monitoring confirmed reports of Covid-19 cases involving a variant of the virus, according to a press release issued today by the county.
Two cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, known as the U.K. variant, have been identified in local patients. The cases were in people who tested positive for Covid-19 on Jan. 28 and Feb. 28. Because of that timing, residents should assume the B.1.1.7 variant is circulating in the community, the county said.
“We expected these variants to arrive in our County eventually,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said in the press release. “Our case numbers look very good right now. However, we must not let down our guard, and need to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing while in public. A virus cannot mutate if it cannot replicate.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring several mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can carry elevated risk of infection and mortality, the county noted. Vaccines currently authorized for use in the U.S. have been shown to maintain effectiveness against variants.
For more information on state monitoring of Covid-19 variants, visit cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-Variants.aspx.
March 22, 1:30pm: Possible move to orange tier March 31
ICYMI, Santa Cruz County is likely moving to the less restrictive orange tier of the state’s reopening plan on March 31, County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said last week at a virtual press conference.
The likely move comes amid continued decreases in case and positivity rates in the county. Find out what Newel and other local health officials had to say about the improving Covid-19 numbers and vaccination progress in the story here.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 197 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,225 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 229 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,547,278 Covid-19 cases and 56,545 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 131,211 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 14,819,755 administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the red tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 18, 11:30am: New vaccination hub opens
Kaiser Permanente is opening a Covid-19 vaccination site today at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz for eligible members and others in the community, the health care provider announced in a press release Wednesday.
Dependent upon vaccine supply, the site is expected to operate seven days a week from 9am-5pm. Those interested in receiving their vaccine there can check eligibility and schedule an appointment at kp.org/covidvaccine. Vaccinations are available by appointment only.
“We are pleased to be making this announcement today, and we want to express our gratitude to all those involved with the Santa Cruz Warriors and at Kaiser Permanente who helped make this a reality,” said Dr. William Maclean, physician in charge for Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz County, in a press release. “We’ll be working hard to help vaccinate community members as quickly and equitably as possible.”
Kaiser Permanente follows state and CDC guidance regarding prioritization for vaccinations. Eligibility currently includes educators, including teachers, school staff and childcare workers, people in emergency services, public transportation workers and food and agriculture workers. Also included are health care workers, people age 65 and older, and people age 16-64 who have medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid-19.
The vaccination site was made possible through a partnership with the Santa Cruz Warriors, who call Kaiser Permanente Arena home.For information about the vaccines, eligibility and how to make an appointment, visit kp.org/covidvaccine.
March 17, 2:30pm: Businesses, school sports navigate changing rules
With Santa Cruz County’s move to the red tier of the state’s reopening plan, some businesses are springing into action to add more options for patrons.
Among the changes, Soif in downtown Santa Cruz has reopened for outdoor dining Wednesday through Saturday, and Avanti on Mission Street is open for indoor dining at 25% capacity, our dining columnist writes.
One local business owner, though, has found themselves wrangling with Santa Cruz city officials over what’s allowed for outdoor dining structures. The city recently slapped a red tag on MeloMelo Kava Bar’s outdoor dining structure on Pacific Avenue. City officials say it boils down to safety concerns. The business owner says they may pursue legal action. Mat Weir has the details in his story.
Sports are making a comeback as Covid-19 case numbers continue to drop in the county. The high school football season is back on track for now, with six Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League (SCCAL) football games slated for this weekend, Juan Reyes reports.
As the country and world continue reflecting on reaching the one-year mark of the pandemic, Watsonville officials issued a request for proposals for a memorial to honor people who have died from Covid-19. The majority of the county’s Covid-19 cases have been in Watsonville residents, as Pajaronian Managing Editor Tony Nuñez notes.
In Santa Cruz County, 197 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,137 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 257 are known active cases, according to the latest information from county health officials.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 3,532,496 Covid-19 cases and 55,577 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 116,433 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents and 13,037,557 administered statewide. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the red tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 15, 2:30pm: Health officials weigh in on vaccine selection
“The best vaccine is the one you can get the soonest,” Bay Area health officers, including Santa Cruz County officials, said in a joint statement released today, stepping into the debate over the advantages offered by each of the three Covid-19 vaccines currently available in the United States.
All three available Covid-19 vaccines “are safe and have been shown to be highly effective at preventing symptomatic illness and hospitalization,” the health officers said in their statement. All three vaccines were 100% effective at preventing Covid-19 deaths, they added.
“What we can say with certainty is that all three vaccines provide levels of protection that are comparable to some of the best vaccines we have for other serious infectious diseases for which we routinely vaccinate people,” the officers said. Read their full statement here.
The county also shared information today about federal funds available to renters and landlords affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. To apply or verify eligibility, visit housingiskey.com or call 1-833-430-2122 between 7am-7pm daily. Applications and assistance are available in multiple languages. Local partners including Community Bridges, Community Action Board, Families in Transition, California Rural Legal Assistance and United Way 211 have been selected to help tenants and landlords through the applications process, too.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 196 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 15,080 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 278 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of today, there have been 3,528,795 Covid-19 cases and 55,330 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Gov. Gavin Newsom shared on Twitter that the state has administered more than 12 million vaccines. California’s Covid-19 case rate dropped 27% in the last week, Newsom said, and its positivity rate is 2%, the fourth-lowest in the country.
So far, there have been 110,238 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the red tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 10, 10:45am: Vaccine distribution update
No communities in Santa Cruz County qualify for the state’s vaccine equity plan, announced last Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom as a way to more equitably distribute vaccinations to the hardest hit-communities. Some counties are appealing to the state to use census data rather than zip codes as the basis for determining which areas are eligible for the program. For more information, check out this article by Tony Nuñez.
Statewide, Newsom announced that more than 200,000 vaccines were administered to education workers last week. This number surpasses the state’s goal to vaccinate 75,000 education workers per week.
The federal coronavirus relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan, is set to pass the House today. In addition to $1,400 checks, the bill will include provisions for vaccinations, rental support, child care and more. NPR breaks down what’s in the bill here.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 187 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,908 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 294 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 10 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with two patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves four ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 3,513,678 Covid-19 cases and 54,621 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 98,155 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County is in the red tier of the state’s reopening plan as of today. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 9, 12:30pm: County moves to red tier
Santa Cruz County is moving to the red tier of the state’s reopening plan starting Wednesday, March 10, as predicted last week.
That means several indoor business operations can reopen starting Wednesday, including indoor dining, aquariums, museums, dance studios, gyms and movie theaters, all of which have been shuttered by state restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
With the move to the red tier, outdoor amusement parks in Santa Cruz County will be allowed to welcome back customers next month, as we covered in the story here about the latest state guidance on outdoor events, including sports and performances.
The move to the red tier also means that middle and high schools can start to welcome students back to the classroom. Schools in counties that have met the criteria for school reopening have a three-week period to open, even if the county stops meeting the criterion during that window.
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel announced in a press release today that she is removing local orders restricting visitors at skilled nursing facilities and other congregate living settings.
“This change is a sign of our community’s commitment to health and to each other. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. I urge everyone to get a vaccine once they become eligible so that we may continue on this path to recovery,” Newel said in a press release.
Learn more about what’s open and closed in the red tier here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
March 8, 12:30pm: CDC and California roll out new guidelines
New guidelines from the state will allow live performances, outdoor sport events, and amusement parks to partially reopen as of April 1. Masks will always be required, and the number of people who can be present will be determined by a county’s tier. The Pajaronian Managing Editor Tony Nuñez reports on the details for amusement parks in Santa Cruz County here.
New CDC guidelines now allow fully vaccinated people to visit unvaccinated single households without masks or social distancing two weeks after receiving their last dose. Two or more household meetings with unvaccinated people must take place outdoors, masked, and with social distancing. Practically, this means that fully vaccinated grandparents can visit their unvaccinated grandchildren if they live in the same region. But if their unvaccinated neighbors show up, the gathering will need to mask up and head outdoors.
On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new measure that will attempt to more equitably allocate vaccines in California. The state will evaluate zip codes by 25 characteristics relating to the economy, education, health care services, transportations and more. The most at-risk zip codes will receive 40% of vaccine allocation compared to 20% for the other zip codes.
Nationally, the American Rescue Plan passed the Senate on Saturday with no Republican votes and major concessions to centrist Democrats. The amended bill will now head back to the House, where it is expected to pass by Thursday. The new version of the bill does not include any raise in the federal minimum wage and lowers the amount of weekly benefits for people on unemployment. The bill still includes $1,400 stimulus checks for low- and middle-income families.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 187 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,790 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 342 are known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 10 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with three patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves seven ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,504,652 Covid-19 cases and 54,224 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Over 10 million vaccines have been administered in California. So far, there have been 96,520 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the purple tier of the state’s reopening plan and is expected to move to the red tier this week. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
March 3, 2:30pm: County stays in purple tier for now
Santa Cruz County will remain in the purple tier until at least next week. The county was placed in the purple tier, the highest of four, in late January when California health officials ended the state’s regional stay-at-home orders. The county was leading the Bay Area in positivity rates in January.
The decision to keep Santa Cruz in the purple tier was made by the state Tuesday. Although the county’s positivity rate was well below the percentage required to move to the red tier, the case rate failed to fall under the mark needed to loosen restrictions, as Pajaronian News Editor Tony Nuñez reported. The county will need to meet the requirements for the red tier for two weeks before being moved down from the purple tier, per state guidelines.
The California Department of Public Health also released updated youth and adult sports guidelines, allowing some outdoor sports to resume while the county is still in the purple tier. More information can be found here.
Statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration has approved the use of Medi-Cal to fund voluntary Covid-19 testing for low-income students in California.
And on the vaccination front, the Western States Scientific Safety Review approved the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine for California and other Western states yesterday. Unlike earlier vaccines, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures and only requires one shot.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 183 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,736 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 369 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 3,484,963 Covid-19 cases and 52,775 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 86,547 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the purple tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
March 1, 1pm: Free rides for vaccinations; plus movement on virus relief
More Santa Cruz County residents died of Covid-19 in the first two months of 2021 than in the entirety of 2020. That rising death toll came after intensive care unit (ICU) availability in the county dropped dramatically starting in December. Good Times readers can see these numbers and more about how the pandemic is playing out in Santa Cruz through data visualizations in this story by intern Freda Kreier showing hospitalizations, deaths, and ICU bed availability in the county.
As the vaccination effort continues, METRO is offering free rides to anyone traveling to and from Covid-19 vaccination appointments in Santa Cruz County. Riders will need to show proof of their appointments to the bus operator, such as a picture, printout, or email of their appointment confirmation. ParaCruz riders will need to specify ahead of time that they are heading to a vaccination appointment.
Nationally, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed the House early Saturday morning. It now heads to the Senate, where changes to the bill are expected. As it stands, the bill includes $1,400 checks per individual and dependents making up to $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples). The bill also reserves funds for vaccine distribution, housing assistance, and unemployment insurance. The Senate is expected to change a provision that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.
Now, the latest numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 183 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,671 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 386 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 16 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with two patients in the ICU. That leaves 10 ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,479,078 Covid-19 cases and 52,194 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 84,809 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 24, 10:45am: Stimulus checks; rent relief; vaccines in the Central Valley
The California Legislature passed a $7.6 billion coronavirus stimulus package on Monday, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Tuesday. Under this new bill, 5.7 million Californians will receive $600 checks 4-7 weeks after filing their 2020 tax returns. Checks will target low-income and undocumented workers, elderly and disabled people, and CalWORKS recipients. Information on eligibility can be found here.
The stimulus package will also provide $2 billion in grants for small businesses, $100 million in emergency aid for community college students, and $525 stipends for children enrolled in state-sponsored child care.
Locally, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to join a state-run rent relief program that will make more than $16 million in federal funds available to renters in the county. Tenants must demonstrate financial hardship due to the ongoing pandemic. The program is set to launch next month. Applications for aid can be filled out through the state’s HousingIsKey.com website.
And on the vaccine front, the state increased vaccine allocations to the Central Valley by 58% last week to target food and agricultural workers. Another 34,000 doses will be administered to workers by mobile teams run by the federal health service business OptumService.
Now, the numbers:
In Santa Cruz County, 174 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,516 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 495 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 21 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with three patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves three ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,450,058 Covid-19 cases and 49,563 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 69,987 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 22, 2:55pm: Occupation-based vaccination starts
Covid-19 vaccinations for Santa Cruz County residents are being expanded to include workers in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture industries, the county announced today.
Eligibility will be based on occupation definitions from the California Department of Public Health, according to the county’s press release. Proof of occupation will be required.
The County Public Health Division will start occupational vaccinations by working with eligible employers to arrange clinics. Eligible employers can begin the process by filling out a Covid-19 Vaccine Interest Survey at bit.ly/2NnFAUA.
Visit the county’s website at santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusvaccine for more updates and information, including when and how people who are newly eligible can schedule vaccine appointments.
The expanded eligibility comes as more than half of Santa Cruz County residents age 65 and older have now received at least one vaccine dose. Any older adults who have not yet been vaccinated should schedule an appointment now, the county urged in its press release, noting that “as vaccine access expands, efforts will continue to focus on those most impacted, including those with high risk of exposure and older residents at greatest risk of serious illness and death from Covid-19.”
“We are steadily increasing our vaccine infrastructure to enable wider access,” Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall said in the press release. “While we are proud and pleased with efforts so far, they are limited by both vaccine supply and changing vaccine distribution plans from the State of California. I ask for the public’s continued support and understanding.”
The public should be aware that it will take weeks to get through age-based and occupation-based groups in Phase 1B, the county added.
“Until everyone has access to the vaccine, please continue doing your part to protect the community,” Hall said in her statement. “This includes staying home as much as possible, wearing a mask in public, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding gatherings with those outside your household.”
Feb. 22, 2pm: Santa Cruz County’s vaccination ranking
Santa Cruz County ranks seventh in the state in Covid-19 vaccination per capita, with 24,282 vaccinations per 100,000 people according to information provided by the county. The county is in second place for counties with populations over 250,000 in California.
In Santa Cruz County, 172 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,495 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 527 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 24 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with three patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves three ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,446,611 Covid-19 cases and 49,338 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 67,893 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 17, 1pm: Vaccination guidelines broaden
California has changed Covid-19 vaccination guidelines to include people between the ages of 16 and 65 with high-risk medical conditions. Qualifying medical conditions include cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, and more. Pregnant women are also eligible. The state estimates that 4-6 million more Californians will become eligible for the vaccine under these guidelines.The new guidelines are available here.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office also announced on Friday the launch of the Safe Schools Reopening Map, an interactive map with information on the reopening of schools across the state. Each school will display information on the status of reopening, Covid-19 support, and safety planning. The map is a part of the state’s Safe Schools For All plan.
In Santa Cruz County, 170 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,359 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 732 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 24 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with six patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves two ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 3,416,147 Covid-19 cases and 47,507 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 56,718 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 15, 1:30pm: Vaccine line-jumping thwarted
There have now been more than 6.1 million doses of the vaccine administered in California, according to the latest state data. In a tweet today, Gov. Gavin Newsom said that supply is the largest constraint.
Here in Santa Cruz County, health officials had to deal with attempted line-jumping by people who were not eligible for the mass Covid-19 vaccination clinic last week at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. That incident was a microcosm of California’s hectic and ever-changing first two months of vaccine distribution, Pajaronian News Editor Tony Nuñez reports.
As the pandemic approaches a full year, Pajaronian reporter Johanna Miller looked into how groups throughout Santa Cruz County are helping older adults who have been more isolated from the community than ever during this time.
In Santa Cruz County, 168 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,232 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 955 are known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 30 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with seven patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves five ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been more than 3.4 million Covid-19 cases and 47,043 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 54,404 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 10, 10am: Free multilingual community forum on vaccine
Community Bridges is hosting a free multilingual community forum about the Covid-19 vaccine on Feb. 23 at 6pm.
The free forum will be presented in Spanish with translation in English, Mixteco and Trique. Panelists include Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Dr. Oscar Gantes of Salud Para La Gente, Dr. Martha Sandoval of Sutter Health and CERT Auxiliary Safety Officer John Hanley.
They will “address vaccine hesitancy, identify myths, explain safety and efficacy, and provide information on how to get the vaccine,” according to a Community Bridges press release, and attendees will be able to ask questions. There will also be five $100 raffle prizes awarded. Register at communitybridges.org/events.
In other vaccine news, U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Jim Costa (CA-16) were joined by some of their Congressional colleagues in writing a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, advocating for a “robust educational campaign” to reach food and farmworkers with the Covid-19 vaccine.
“California’s 800,000 agricultural workers are an essential workforce responsible for sustaining California’s $50 billion agricultural industry,” they wrote. The lawmakers called for linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate resources to ensure these essential workers have the information they need to “feel secure in seeking out and accepting the vaccine.” Read the full text of the letter here.
So far, there have been 41,586 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
In Santa Cruz County, 160 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,055 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,146 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 40 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 10 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves 11 ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,354,591 Covid-19 cases and 44,477 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 8, 3pm: More vaccination sites open
Another vaccination site is coming to Santa Cruz County, serving everyone in Phase 1A of the vaccination plan, all county residents age 75 and older, and residents age 65 and older in the zip codes 95019, 95076, and 95077.
The site will be in the council chambers of Old City Hall at 250 Main St. in Watsonville and will be ADA-accessible, operating 9am-6pm Thursday-Monday with 210 appointments per day. Vaccines are only available by appointment. English and Spanish speakers who meet eligibility criteria can make appointments by visiting myoptumserve.com/covid19 or calling 877-218-0381. Learn more in the county’s press release.
For veterans age 75 and older, they can attend a Covid-19 vaccination clinic at the Major General William H. Gourley VA-DoD Outpatient Clinic in Marina on Saturday, Feb. 13. To make an appointment, call the Palo Alto VA Medical Center at 650-496-2535.
In Santa Cruz County, 159 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 14,011 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,240 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 42 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 11 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves 10 ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,346,340 Covid-19 cases and 44,150 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
So far, there have been 40,529 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents. To learn more about when you can be vaccinated, register for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov or contact your health care provider.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Find out what’s open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 3, 11am: Vaccination pilot project
In a video announcement today, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new community vaccination sites in Oakland and Los Angeles. The pilot sites are part of the Biden-Harris administration’s push to establish 100 vaccination sites nationwide in their first 100 days in office.
FEMA will provide resources and staffing for the sites and co-run them with California’s Office of Emergency Services. The locations were chosen because they have been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, the governor’s office said in its press release.
For Santa Cruz County residents wondering when they will be eligible for a vaccine, the county recommends contacting your health care provider or registering for a notification when you become eligible at myturn.ca.gov.
In Santa Cruz County, 149 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 13,648 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,590 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 40 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 10 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves seven ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 3,281,271 Covid-19 cases and 41,811 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
On the economic front, Santa Cruz County is reminding people that the second round of California’s Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program is open for applications. Small business owners can apply here: careliefgrant.com
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Feb. 1, 4pm: Getting through the holiday surge
In case you missed it, last week we covered the latest Santa Cruz County Covid-19 news from the Thursday afternoon press conference held by local health officials. Some of the key takeaways were that the county is joining the state in getting over the surge of cases largely related to holiday gatherings.
Vaccination is progressing, too, with county health leaders estimating they will have reached 65-70% of the 75-and-up age group with vaccinations by the end of this week.
Santa Cruz County remains in the Purple Tier of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy reopening plan. Tiers are updated on Tuesdays. Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel predicted the county might not hit the threshold for more reopenings until late spring or summer. See what’s currently open and closed here: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
In Santa Cruz County, 148 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 13,606 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,717 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials. If you need testing, visit the county’s testing locator to learn more about your options.
The latest state data shows 44 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 12 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves four ICU beds available.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3,258,706 Covid-19 cases and 40,908 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 27, 1:30pm: Eviction moratorium extended
Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders issued a joint statement on Monday announcing that the eviction moratorium will be extended through June 30. The previous moratorium was set to expire on Feb. 1. The moratorium only applies to tenants who can demonstrate financial hardship due to Covid-19. Regional regulations and legal information can be found here.
In Santa Cruz County, 143 people have died from Covid-19. There have been 13,147 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,118 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 61 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with six patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves one ICU bed available.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 3,153,186 Covid-19 cases and 37,527 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 25, 4:30pm: Vaccination appointments
Covid-19 vaccines are now available by appointment for health care workers and some residents age 75 and older at the county’s new mass drive-thru vaccination center at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
Residents who live in the Watsonville-area zip codes of 95019, 95076 and 95077 must register at mhealthsystem.com/santacruzfairgrounds to schedule an appointment. Officials urge people to sign up soon, as doses are still limited and spaces are filling up fast.
Verification of occupation (such as a work ID, paycheck stub, etc.) or age/zip code of residence will be required at check-in. Insurance is not required, the county says, but residents should bring medical and prescription cards if available.
Bilingual staff will be on-site.
Appointments for next week will be announced soon. Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra said it all depends on how many vaccines the county receives in the coming week.
To learn more about Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Santa Cruz County, click here.
The latest county data on Covid-19 cases became available after our earlier live blog update. There have now been 135 deaths in Santa Cruz County from Covid-19, according to county health officials. There have been 13,009 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,471 are known active cases.
Jan. 25, 9:30am: State moves back to county-level restrictions
California health officials ended the state’s regional stay-at-home orders today, reverting to the previous system of color-coded tiers and restrictions on a county level.
Santa Cruz County is in the Purple, or Widespread, Tier, meaning many non-essential indoor business operations remain closed. Some activities such as outdoor dining are now allowed to resume immediately, though, with modifications in place to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
More details on openings and restrictions by industry or activity in each county are available at covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
Under the regional system, reopening had been tied to intensive care unit (ICU) capacity. Santa Cruz County was included in the Bay Area region, which had been under stricter stay-at-home orders since mid-December. The return to the color-coded tiers, known as the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, will once again tie reopening to county case rates and test positivity.
There have been 130 deaths in Santa Cruz County from Covid-19, according to data last updated Thursday by county health officials. There have been 12,649 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,663 are known active cases.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 3.1 million Covid-19 cases and 36,790 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 20, 3pm: New strain detected in Santa Clara County
A new strain of the virus that causes Covid-19, known as L452R, has been detected in surrounding areas and is linked to several large outbreaks in neighboring Santa Clara County.
L452R is not the same variant as the new and highly infectious B.1.1.7 variant first reported in the UK. Officials don’t yet know if L452R is more infectious than previous strains, but scientists have identified mutations in the spike protein used by the virus to infect cells. That may make this variant of the virus less susceptible to the Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines, which target the spike protein.
Here in Santa Cruz County, a new partnership with local Safeway stores is aimed at ensuring faster distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to health care workers. Safeway will provide mass vaccination clinics that can accommodate up to 500 people per day at a location to be announced.
“Our goal is to distribute vaccine supplies as quickly as possible, and doing that demands that we rely on the strength of our local partnerships with health care providers, including Safeway pharmacies,” Mimi Hall, Health Services Agency director for Santa Cruz County, said in a press release. “Ending this pandemic will take our entire community working together, and we are grateful for the partnerships we have as well as those we will form in the coming weeks and months.”
There have been 113 deaths in the county from Covid-19. There have been 12,461 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,753 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 71 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 10 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves zero ICU beds available. ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently at 7.4%.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been more than 3 million Covid-19 cases and 34,433 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 13, 2:30pm: State makes everyone age 65+ eligible for vaccination
The state announced today that all Californians age 65 and older are now eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. That is a group of some 6.6 million Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a video announcement.
Health care workers and long-term care residents remain the highest priority for receiving vaccines, the state noted in a press release. Demand for vaccines “continues to far exceed supply,” the state added.
The decision comes amid a slow rollout of the vaccine in California that officials have been trying to address through a variety of tactics, as reported by our news partner CalMatters.
Here in Santa Cruz County, officials continue to seek ways of addressing the economic fallout of the ongoing pandemic. The county announced Tuesday it has applied for funding through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program to help local families that are unable to pay rent and utilities because of the pandemic. The county estimates it could receive an $8 million grant. The county previously put $1.1 million of its federal CARES Act funds to a similar program. Learn more about the new program here.
The county death toll from Covid-19 has hit 111. There have been 11,275 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,789 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 72 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 13 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves one ICU bed available. ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently at 4.7%.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 2.7 million Covid-19 cases and 30,513 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 11, noon: Positivity rate soars
Monterey and Santa Cruz counties were reporting the highest Covid-19 positivity rates in the Bay Area region Friday, according to data reported by the California Department of Public Health and covered in our partner paper, The Pajaronian. The positivity rate on Friday in Monterey County was 23.2%. In Santa Cruz County it was 18.5%, a 5.7% increase from 14 days prior.
Today, the state lists Santa Cruz County’s positivity rate as 20.7%. Positivity rate is tallied by comparing the total number of positive cases reported in the last 14 days out of the total number of tests reported in the same period.
In Santa Cruz County, 106 residents have died from Covid-19. There have been 10,833 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,736 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 82 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 13 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves no ICU beds available. ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently 3%.
Statewide as of Saturday, there have been 2.6 million Covid-19 cases and 29,701 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 8, 2pm: County surpasses 100 deaths
The county surpassed two grim milestones this week, with more than 10,000 known cases and more than 100 deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of the known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, 2,543 are known active cases, according to information last updated Wednesday evening by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 77 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 13 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves one ICU bed available. ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently at 3%.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 2.5 million Covid-19 cases and more than 28,000 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
As in much of the rest of the country, rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in California has been slower than anticipated. Our news partner CalMatters has more details on what the state is doing to speed up distribution.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Jan. 6, 2:30pm: Stimulus, more small business relief proposed
Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out a series of proposed actions this week to support Californians struggling amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its economic ripple effects.
The proposals, part of the 2021-2022 budget, include extending eviction protections and providing “$600 rapid cash support directly to roughly four million low-income Californians.” Newsom also proposed $575 million in funds for small businesses, which would be in addition to the $500 million already allocated in relief grants.
There’s still time for applications to the first round of California’s Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program. Applications close Wednesday, Jan. 13. Learn more at careliefgrant.com.
Here in Santa Cruz County, 93 residents have now died from Covid-19. There have been 9,700 known Covid-19 cases in the county, of which 2,488 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday evening by local health officials.
The latest state data shows 86 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 18 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). That leaves zero ICU beds available.
ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently at 5.9%. Based on the numbers, it appears likely that the Bay Area region will remain under the stricter stay-at-home order past Friday, Jan. 8, the first day it becomes eligible for some reopenings. A region’s four-week ICU projection must show a capacity of at least 15% for the order to be lifted.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been nearly 2.5 million Covid-19 cases and more than 27,000 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Dec. 28, 2:30pm: Death toll rises to more than 80 people
There have now been 83 deaths among Santa Cruz County residents due to Covid-19. There have been 8,202 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 2,301 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 70 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 17 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is at 9.5%. The region remains under the state’s strictest level of stay-at-home orders through at least Jan. 8.
Statewide as of Saturday, there have been 2.1 million Covid-19 cases and 24,220 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Vaccines are continuing to roll out to those most at risk. Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced that the state is joining the federal Covid-19 Pharmacy Partnership. Under the partnership, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies will administer the Pfizer-made vaccine to residents and staff in nursing homes, assisted living, residential care and other long-term care facilities.
As Covid-19 cases continue surging, the state is also looking for help from more licensed healthcare workers. People who fit the bill can learn more here about how to sign up.
Dec. 18, 4:50pm: New testing site in city of Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced today the creation of a North County community Covid-19 testing site, something Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel teased in a press conference yesterday.
The new site will be at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, located at 307 Church St. It will be able to process 165 daily tests and is a state-sponsored site operated by OptumServe. To make an appointment, go to lhi.care/covidtesting. Appointments are available beginning Monday, Dec. 21. No walk-up appointments are allowed. The site will operate Monday through Friday from 7am-7pm.
The establishment of the Civic Auditorium testing site follows an expansion of the Ramsay Park community testing site in Watsonville, which is also operated by OptumServe.
In addition, Senneca Diagnostics recently opened a community testing site at Twin Lakes Church, located at 2701 Cabrillo College Dr., Aptos. The site offers testing for up to 300 individuals per day. The Senneca Diagnostics site is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am-4pm. To make an appointment, go to sennecadx.com/community. Patients do not need to exhibit symptoms in order to get tested at any of the sites. For more information on local testing, visit santacruzhealth.org/testing.
Dec. 18, 9am: New stay-at-home order, business impacts and more
In case you missed our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past few days, the region’s intensive care unit (ICU) availability dipped below the 15% threshold, triggering a new stay-at-home order that took effect in Santa Cruz County at 11:59pm Thursday. The order will last at least three weeks, with the region becoming eligible to have the order lifted Jan. 8, 2021.
Law enforcement officials say they will be prioritizing education over cracking down on offenders. But the new restrictions are real, and business owners are worried, with some saying that they’ve unfairly borne the brunt of the pandemic for too long.
Local health care workers have started receiving vaccines, but worries linger about their growing workload amid the surge of Covid-19 cases. Watsonville Community Hospital nurses staged a demonstration this week calling for assurances about their safety.
Also, new research shows that many farmworkers in the region went to work despite testing positive for Covid-19, because they were concerned about losing their jobs, their pay, or because their employers told them to.
The county has recorded 10 more deaths this week, and 20 deaths since last Wednesday, Dec. 9, with 70 people in the county now dead from Covid-19. There have been 6,689 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,842 are known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials.
The latest state data shows 58 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County, with 11 patients in the ICU. That leaves two ICU beds available.
ICU availability in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently at 13.1%.Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 1,723,362 Covid-19 cases and 21,860 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Dec. 15, 1:30pm: Death toll reaches 60
Sixty Santa Cruz County residents have now died from Covid-19 directly or with the disease as a contributing cause.
Santa Cruz County’s Health Services Agency (HSA) shared with Good Times the latest information on the demographics of those who have died:
- Age:
- 40-49 years: 1
- 50-59 years: 2
- 60-69 years: 8
- 70-79 years: 7
- 80-89 years: 15
- 90 years and older: 27
- Gender:
- Male: 28
- Female: 32
- Race/ethnicity:
- Asian alone: 4
- Black: 1
- Latinx: 22
- White: 27
- Other: 1
- Unknown: 5
- Underlying conditions:
- Yes: 44
- No: 16
The HSA is also tracking deaths at skilled nursing homes and residential care facilities, with 43 deaths total among the sites:
- Watsonville Post Acute: 16
- Pacific Coast Manor: 9
- Santa Cruz Post Acute: 14
- Hearts and Hands: 2
- Montecito Manor: 1
- Maple House II: 1
The Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, is currently on the verge of falling under a stricter stay-at-home order as intensive care unit (ICU) capacity hit 15.8%, according to state data. If that number drops below 15%, the state-mandated stay-at-home order will take effect and require further closures of local businesses and services by 11:59pm the next day. The order will remain in effect for at least three weeks.
In Santa Cruz County, the latest state data shows 57 people are currently hospitalized for Covid-19, with nine patients in the ICU. That leaves four ICU beds available.
There have been more than 6,100 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,569 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been nearly 1.6 million Covid-19 cases and more than 21,000 deaths, according to the latest data available from the California Department of Public Health.
Vaccines arrive; testing expands
Vaccines are starting to arrive in Santa Cruz County, with 1,950 doses delivered so far to be distributed to local hospitals, according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin. The first local vaccination could come as soon as tomorrow. The county’s full vaccination plan, including how it will prioritize and distribute vaccines, is available here.
County health officials have warned that widespread distribution of the vaccine could take several months. In the meantime, UCSC announced today that it is running more than 800 Covid-19 tests in a day and can deliver results in 24-48 hours.
A gift from Bud and Rebecca Colligan is also providing funding to expand that testing capacity and construct a new space to house the diagnostic lab in the UCSC Genomics Institute facilities at the Westside Research Park. The lab will be named the Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory in recognition of the Colligans’ support. The lab had been operating in provisional space and will move to its new, permanent location early next year.
Dec. 10, 1:30pm: County shares vaccination plan
Santa Cruz County health officials submitted their plan to the California Department of Public Health for how they will manage and distribute Covid-19 vaccines locally.
The county’s vaccine priorities will follow recommendations from federal and state public health agencies, the county said in a press release today. An initial delivery of vaccines could come next week and would be distributed to local hospitals. Initial distribution will be targeted toward high-risk health care workers and first responders.
The county noted that “widespread distribution may not occur for several months.” The broader distribution may be done through community drive-thrus and pop-up sites in addition to being delivered by primary care providers, clinics, and pharmacies, but no locations are finalized for now.
In the meantime, the county is urging everyone to continue wearing face masks and practicing social distancing to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Intensive care unit (ICU) capacity in the Bay Area region, which includes Santa Cruz County, continues to dwindle. It is now at 17.8%, according to the state. If that number drops below 15%, the stricter stay-at-home order will take effect and require further closures of local businesses and services by 11:59pm the next day. The order will remain in effect for at least three weeks.
There have been 5,523 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,342 are known active cases, according to information last updated Wednesday by county health officials. The county’s death toll now stands at 50 people.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been more than 1.4 million Covid-19 cases and more than 20,000 people have died, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Dec. 9, 2pm: State releases exposure notification app
As the number of people with Covid-19 in California continues to rise, the state is releasing an app to help people find out whether they might have been exposed to the virus that causes the disease.
The new CA Notify App can tell people whether they have had contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. The app will be available for download starting Thursday, Dec.10.
“The more people download and use this app, the more helpful it is to our efforts to contain this disease,” Santa Cruz County Health Director Mimi Hall said in a county press release. “It helps us save lives. Our contact tracers are stretched thin, and every day counts when it comes to alerting others of a possible exposure so that they may begin quarantine and protect those around them.”
Learn more about the app at canotify.ca.gov.
There’s no decision yet from Santa Cruz County officials on whether to join San Francisco, Santa Clara, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties in closing before the Bay Area region’s projected trigger date of Dec. 14 for the newest stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The actual trigger date will be based on when the availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the region falls below 15%. The region’s current ICU availability is 20.9%, according to state data. In Santa Cruz County, there are currently 48 people hospitalized with Covid-19, including 10 in the ICU. There are four remaining ICU beds available in the county.
The county has several options at this point, as Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin told Pajaronian Managing Editor Tony Nuñez on Monday. It could adopt the regional stay-at-home order as is, or, Hoppin said, it could decide to adopt an alternative order that would allow some outdoor services such as outdoor dining to remain open until the region eventually closes. It could also do nothing, and wait until the region is forced to close by state health officials.
The state made one change today to its stay-at-home order, updating its guidance to say outdoor playgrounds can remain open. As the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, the original decision to close outdoor playgrounds came “much to the chagrin of parents who were upset that seemingly more risky activities, like indoor shopping, were still allowed.”
There have been 5,388 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,293 are known active cases, according to information updated Tuesday by county health officials. Forty-seven people in the county have died from Covid-19, 246 people have required hospitalization, and 4,048 have recovered.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been nearly 1.4 million Covid-19 cases and more than 20,000 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Dec. 4, 3pm: County waits on joining preemptive closures
Santa Cruz County officials said today they will not yet join five other Bay Area counties in preemptively adhering to the regional stay-at-home order announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday.
Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Marin and Santa Clara counties will adopt the stricter business restrictions starting Sunday at 10pm. The six other counties in the Bay Area region defined by the order, including Santa Cruz and Monterey, will not join them, for now.
“In collaboration with County leadership, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel is considering what additional measures may be necessary to protect the health and safety of local residents. At this time, we have not reached any conclusions but are considering all options,” county spokesman Jason Hoppin said in an email.
The new stay-at-home order, which is similar to the restrictions imposed by various jurisdictions at the start of the pandemic, is triggered if regional Intensive care unit (ICU) hospital bed capacity falls below 15%, meaning there are low numbers of ICU beds available for the treatment of additional people. According to numbers reported by the state, 43 people were in Santa Cruz County hospitals with Covid-19 on Thursday, a decrease of four from the day prior. That included eight people in the ICU. There were still six ICU beds available in the county.
Dec. 4, noon: Those we’ve lost
Thirty-seven Santa Cruz County residents have died from Covid-19 directly or with the disease as a contributing cause.
Santa Cruz County’s Health Services Agency shared with Good Times the latest information on the demographics of those who have died:
- 35 people were 65 years of age or older, one person was in the 45-64 age range, and one person was in the 35-44 age range
- 19 people were male, and 18 were female
- 17 people were Latinx, 15 were white, one was Black, one was Asian, and three were listed as of an “other” or “unknown” race
- 28 people had underlying conditions, while nine did not
There have been 4,750 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,131 are known active cases, according to information last updated Wednesday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been more than 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and 19,437 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
New trigger for stay-at-home orders
New stay-at-home orders issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday will be based on intensive care unit capacity in five regions in California.
Newsom said that much of the state will likely be under the stay-at-home orders within the next few days if ICU capacity falls below 15%, meaning there are low levels of ICU beds available. He predicts that the Bay Area—the region in which Santa Cruz and Monterey counties fall—will reach that point in mid- to late-December.
“If we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said.
If the orders are triggered, private gatherings of any size will be prohibited, and all but essential services and businesses will be closed.
Newsom moved Santa Cruz County into the most restrictive tier of the state’s reopening plan on Nov. 16. That move still allowed restaurants, gyms and some other businesses to offer outdoor services. When the orders issued Thursday are triggered, those activities will be prohibited. Wineries and bars must also close.
Schools that have received waivers can stay open. Retail businesses can stay open at 20% capacity, and restaurants can continue carryout service.
The order will remain in effect for at least three weeks and after that period will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%.
The good news, Newsom said, is that California is set to receive 327,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from the Pfizer drug company, which will first be given to medical facilities and workers, clinics and long-term care facilities, among others.
Newsom called the impending vaccines the “light at the end of the tunnel,” and said he does not expect to have to issue restrictions again.
“We will get through this,” he said. “This is the final surge.”
There was some good news reported this week: The Covid-19 testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville has doubled its daily testing capacity to 330 tests per day.
The site is also now open seven days a week from 7am-7pm. Testing is free. To make an appointment, go to lhi.care/covidtesting.
In addition, San Francisco-based Senneca Diagnostics recently opened a community testing site at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos. The site offers testing for up to 300 individuals per day. The Senneca Diagnostics site is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am-4pm. To make an appointment, go to sennecadx.com/community.
Dec. 2, 1:30pm: Death toll climbs over 30 in county
Thirty-three people in the county have now died from Covid-19 or with the disease as a contributing cause, according to the latest information shared by county health officials.
The additional deaths come amid a continued surge of Covid-19 cases statewide. On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested there could soon be a new stay-at-home order if the disease continues to spread rapidly and put more strain on health care systems.
Santa Cruz County, along with many other counties statewide, is already under a stay-at-home order that is in effect from 10pm-5am daily through Dec. 21. Like the statewide order issued in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, the order currently in place requires that all non-essential work, movement and gatherings stop from 10pm-5am. State health officials’ rationale was that activities during that time “are often non-essential” and involve gatherings where people become more lax about following safety measures.
Locally, there was a Covid-19 outbreak in the Santa Cruz County jail system, as we reported Tuesday. Our News Editor Jacob Pierce will bring you more detail today on the source of that outbreak.
An outbreak at the Watsonville Post Acute Center has also been drawing increased scrutiny. Several family members whose loved ones are—or were—at the center told Pajaronian reporter Todd Guild that they found a lack of communication, unsanitary conditions, brusque staff members and an unsettling level of disorganization during the Covid-19 outbreak. The family of one man who died in that outbreak is suing the facility.
There is some promising news on the vaccine front, and our media partner CalMatters offers helpful insights here about the vaccine, distribution of it, and how many doses California will receive before the year’s end.
There have been 4,696 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,134 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday evening by county health officials. More than 230 people have required hospitalization while sick with Covid-19. More than 3,500 people have recovered.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been more than 1.2 million Covid-19 cases and 19,211 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Nov. 23, 3pm: California sees troubling surge of new Covid-19 cases ahead of Thanksgiving
California hit a single-day record for new Covid-19 cases with 13,005 cases announced Friday.
While single-day totals don’t tell the whole story, the San Jose Mercury News reported that the seven-day average of new cases in California was at its highest level ever, as of Sunday. The Mercury also reports today that Covid-19 hospitalizations are rising faster than ever. It’s a troubling indicator as California nears a Thanksgiving holiday that’s traditionally marked by large family gatherings.
As GT reported last week, a statewide curfew is in place from 10pm-5am, when non-essential trips are banned, although it isn’t clear how tightly the nightly order is being enforced.
Last month, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommended that no more than three households gather for the holidays. But given the state of the pandemic right now, those measures may not go far enough. In a press conference today, Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services secretary, recommended that Californians consider celebrating Thanksgiving outdoors, with masks on, and/or by using video-conferencing software.
Ghaly also suggested Californains think twice about traveling out of state, as the Covid-19 infection rate is much higher in other parts of the country. Those who do travel should quarantine for two weeks upon their return, he said.
In the same press conference, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said state leaders are preparing for the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, which could be available for essential healthcare workers by mid-December. Newsom and his family are quarantining after one of his children was exposed to the novel coronavirus by a classmate and three of them were exposed to a California Highway Patrol officer who tested positive.
Statewide as of Saturday, there have been more than 1 million Covid-19 cases and 18,676 deaths, according to CDPH. Locally, there have been 3,952 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 818 are known active cases, according to information updated Saturday night by county health officials. Twenty-six people in the county have died from Covid-19, 213 have required hospitalization, and 3,107 have recovered.
Meanwhile, with the winter holidays quickly approaching, community leaders are thinking about how best to support local businesses.
Visit Santa Cruz County has partnered with eight other agencies in a Shop Santa Cruz County campaign, asking shoppers to shop locally. Eight months of the Covid-19 pandemic have hit Santa Cruz County’s hotels, restaurants and shops hard. Retail experts urge customers to start their holiday shopping now to avoid inevitable shipping delays and product shortages, according to a Visit Santa Cruz County press release. Businesses listed on shopsantacruzcounty.org are offering gift certificates.
Nov. 19, 3pm: State issues 10pm-5am “Stay at Home Order”
Amid surging Covid-19 cases, a new Stay at Home Order from the state is aimed at helping slow the spread of the disease.
The California Department of Public Health and Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced a Stay at Home Order requiring that all non-essential work, movement and gatherings stop from 10pm-5am in counties in the Purple Tier of the state’s reopening plan. Santa Cruz County moved into the state’s Purple Tier on Monday due to a spike in cases locally.
The order is the same as what the state issued in March when the pandemic first ramped up in California, but limited to the hours of 10pm-5am. It will be in effect Saturday, Nov. 21, through 5am on Dec. 21.
“The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge. We are sounding the alarm,” Newsom said in a press release. “It is crucial that we act to decrease transmission and slow hospitalizations before the death count surges. We’ve done it before and we must do it again.”
In its reasoning, the state noted that activities conducted during 10pm-5am “are often non-essential and more likely related to social activities and gatherings that have a higher likelihood of leading to reduced inhibition and reduced likelihood for adherence to safety measures like wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distance.”
The state’s order for people to stay at home in the spring successfully flattened the curve by reducing movement and mixing among people, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly added in the state’s announcement.
“We may need to take more stringent actions if we are unable to flatten the curve quickly. Taking these hard, temporary actions now could help prevent future shutdowns,” Ghaly said.
Nov. 13, 1pm: Town hall for employers
Santa Cruz County Public Health officials are hosting a free, virtual town hall for employers who want to learn more about workplace issues related to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The town hall is open to all local employers and will take place Friday, Nov. 20, from 2-3pm. There will be a presentation and a question and answer period. To join, visit tinyurl.com/y4all7g9, or call 916-318-9542 to listen in. The conference ID is 984607670#.
Employers can find more information about Covid-19 at santacruzhealth.org/employers.
The town hall follows Santa Cruz County’s move back into the Red Tier of the state’s reopening plan as Covid-19 cases spike.
There have been 3,356 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 480 are known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials. Twenty-six people in the county have died from Covid-19, 201 have required hospitalization, and 2,850 have recovered.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 991,609 Covid-19 cases and 18,108 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Oct. 27, 2pm: Restrictions loosened in county
California health officials today moved Santa Cruz County into the less restrictive “Moderate” or Orange tier, meaning several kinds of businesses can now reopen and welcome in more customers.
The move means that the county is seeing 1-3.9 new cases per 100,00 in population. Previously, the county was in the “Substantial” or Red tier, which is designated for counties with 4-7 new cases per 100,000.
“We are doing very good about where we are as a county in terms of our Covid response,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said during a press conference this morning.
Beginning today, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters and museums may increase indoor operations to 50% capacity, Newel said.
That is good news for the Green Valley Cinema at 1125 S. Green Valley Road, which opened Oct. 16 at only 25% capacity.
The theater can now double those numbers, but it is still keeping its customers apart from each other and sanitizing theaters between movies, said manager Lori Adragna.
The theater is now showing first-run movies, as well as the 1978 classic “Halloween.”
“We want people to know we are open for business,” she said.
In addition, retail establishments can go to full capacity.
Bars, breweries and distilleries may resume outdoor operations, and wineries can resume indoor operations at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
Gyms and fitness centers may increase indoor capacity from 10% to 25%.
Amusement parks, family entertainment centers, nonessential offices and live-audience sports, which were restricted under the previous tier, may open with modifications.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, for example, can allow 500 guests at a time for outdoor activities only, and only county residents.
Boardwalk spokesman Kris Reyes was not available for comment this afternoon. An employee who answered the phone said officials are considering options about how, and when, to open.
Despite the good news, Newel said that the lessened restrictions do not mean that people should stop practicing safety measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. This includes wearing face masks, social distancing and avoiding large group gatherings.
“This does not indicate that you are any safer when you are out and about in our community,” she said. “This is not some kind of magic change in our community. You need to remember to take all the same precautions that you are taking already.”
Also during the press conference, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall said that the Covid-19 testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville will soon increase its capacity to 165 tests per day. Officials hope to add a second “lane” at that site that will offer an additional 165 tests per day.
The county is also seeking an additional site in North County with a capacity of 165 tests per day, Hall said.
There have been 2,821 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 207 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials. Twenty-five people in the county have died from Covid-19 and 183 have required hospitalization.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 904,198 Covid-19 cases and 17,400 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
For more information on California’s tiered system, visit covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
Oct. 22, 1:30pm: 15 deaths at Watsonville nursing home
Gerald Hunter, the former director of Watsonville Post Acute Center, announced on Monday, Oct. 19, that he has stepped down from the position.
On the facility’s website, Hunter stated that Rae Ann Radford has taken the job. The announcement did not give a reason for the change. It is not clear whether Hunter is still employed by the company.
Watsonville Post Acute has had a tumultuous time since an outbreak of Covid-19 that began there in mid-September.
The facility has had a total of 15 deaths related to Covid-19 since the pandemic began, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokeswoman Corinne Hyland said. Fifty residents and 20 staff members have tested positive. There is currently one active case at the facility, Hyland said.
Hunter stated that the facility is planning to release new visitation guidelines soon.
There have been 2,753 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 201 are known active cases, according to information last updated Wednesday by county health officials. Twenty-five people in the county have died from Covid-19, 181 people have required hospitalization, and 2,527 have recovered.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 877,784 Covid-19 cases and 17,027 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Oct. 14, 5pm: County death toll reaches 23; State issues guidance for small gatherings
Twenty-three Santa Cruz County residents have now died from Covid-19 directly or with the disease as a contributing cause.
Santa Cruz County shared with Good Times its latest information on the demographics for those who have died:
- 21 were 65 years of age or older; one was in the 45-64 age range; one was in the 35-44 age range
- 13 were male; 10 were female
- 13 were Latinx; six were white; one was Black; one was Asian; and two were of an “other” or “unknown” race
- 14 had underlying conditions; 9 did not
There have been 2,633 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 207 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials. More than 160 people in the county have required hospitalization while sick with Covid-19.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 855,072 Covid-19 cases and 16,639 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
In anticipation of people wanting to gather for the holiday season, the California Department of Public Health issued new guidance on private gatherings during the ongoing pandemic. The state guidelines allow for people from not more than three households to gather. The state says the host should collect names of all attendees in case the list is needed for contact tracing, should anyone from the gathering test positive for Covid-19.
See the full guidance and requirements for gatherings on the state’s website here.
Oct. 8, 2pm: Nine dead from outbreak at Watsonville Post Acute Center
Santa Cruz County health officials announced Wednesday that five more residents of Watsonville Post Acute Center have either died from Covid-19 or died with Covid-19 listed as a contributing cause, bringing the death toll at the skilled nursing facility to nine.
Forty-six residents and 15 staff have tested positive for Covid-19, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokeswoman Corinne Hyland said in a press release.
The county said California Department of Public Health (CDPH) officials have conducted multiple site visits to provide assessments and recommendations to the facility’s management. County health officials “are working with the facility on a daily basis to review protocols on isolation, quarantine, testing and screening, as well as resource requests for staff and supplies critical to resolving the outbreak,” according to the press release.
The California National Guard is also providing staffing support.
“Watsonville Post Acute informed CDPH and the County as soon as the first resident tested positive,” County Deputy Health Officer David Ghilarducci said in a statement. “Our staff is focused on the outbreak and we will continue to work closely with WPA.”
The deaths at the center bring the county’s Covid-19 death toll to 18.
There have been 2,535 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 264 are known active cases, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 834,800 Covid-19 cases and 16,361 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Oct. 6, 2pm: Local Covid-19 deaths now total 14
Two more Santa Cruz County residents died of Covid-19, the county said today.
One person was a Latinx man in his late 70s, for whom the new coronavirus was a contributing factor in his death. The other person was a Latinx woman in her mid-80s, and Covid-19 was the primary cause of her death.
Both people were patients at the Watsonville Post Acute Center, the county said in a tweet. A total of 46 residents and 15 staff members of Watsonville Post Acute Center have tested positive for Covid-19, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokesperson Corinne Hyland said in an emailed statement today.
There have been 2,527 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 287 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 826,784 Covid-19 cases and 16,149 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
More Assistance Available
Santa Cruz County has announced a second round of CARES Rental Assistance Program funding. The county has allocated a portion of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to provide housing stabilization assistance to residents of unincorporated Santa Cruz County who have lost income due to the Covid-19 pandemic and whose housing is at risk because they are in arrears for rent and/or utility payments.
For more information and to apply, visit cabinc.org by Oct. 14.
Oct. 1, 4pm: County urges flu vaccinations; Covid-19 death toll rises
Two more county residents died due to Covid-19, the county said this week.
A Black man in his early 70s and a white woman in her early 90s became the eleventh and twelfth people in Santa Cruz County to die of the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
“Both individuals had multiple underlying health conditions, but coronavirus is the primary cause of death for each case,” the county said in a tweet.
Both people were residents of the Watsonville Post Acute Center, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency spokesperson Corinne Hyland confirmed today. A total of 43 residents and 12 staff members of Watsonville Post Acute Center have tested positive for Covid-19, she said.
Anyone wishing to be tested for Covid-19 can find more information about testing locations on the county’s health website here. That website also has a resource page with the latest guidance on how to protect yourself and others from Covid-19, symptoms of Covid-19, and much more.
There have been 2,427 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 281 are known active cases, according to information last updated Wednesday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 813,687 Covid-19 cases and 15,888 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
The county is reminding residents that staying current on preventative vaccinations is crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic. Concerned about the possibility of a “twindemic” of both Covid-19 and the seasonal flu, county health officials issued a press release this week urging everyone over the age of six months to be vaccinated for the flu.
Without preventative action, the flu season could put additional strain on the local healthcare system.
“Vaccination not only reduces the risk of catching the flu, it also reduces the chance that you’ll be hospitalized, which will decrease the impact to our healthcare system,” Chief of Public Health Jennifer Herrera said in a press release.
Sept. 30, 10:30am: New Covid-19 relief money and Halloween guidances
A second round of the Santa Cruz County Cares Recovery Program is on the way for small businesses impacted by Covid-19.
Grants of up to $15,000 will go toward providing immediate financial support to businesses located in Santa Cruz County, including the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville. This round of grants is available to both essential and non-essential businesses with fewer than 25 employees to aid in maintaining their small business and workforce.
Half of the grants will go to businesses owned by women and disadvantaged people. Grants will be awarded through a lottery system with the county divided into three grant zones: South County, Mid-County, and North County.
Grant funds can reimburse payroll expenses, lease payments, personal protective equipment, and much more.
The first round of applicants received awards totaling over $278,000. A total of over $721,000 is available to be awarded during this second round.
Complete applications are due no later than Oct. 11. For information and applications, visit sccvitality.org/Business/CARESGrant.aspx.
On Monday, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel released a joint statement with other health officials from the greater Bay Area about celebrating Halloween and Dia de los Muertos this year.
The release gives examples of “low-risk” activities, like visiting a pumpkin patch or having an outdoor, socially distanced pumpkin carving—and “moderate-risk” activities, like a modified approach to trick-or-treating.
The guidance suggests residents consider leaving out individually wrapped grab-and-go goodie bags on their doorsteps and for trick-or-treating families to line up one at a time, while physically distancing. Those prepping the bags should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds beforehand. Trick-or-treaters should wear masks, use hand sanitizer frequently and wait until they get home to eat their candy.
The order lists normal trick-or treating as “high risk” and significant gatherings as “very high risk.”
There have been 2,394 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 302 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday evening by county health officials. There have been 10 deaths, 155 people have required hospitalization, and 2,082 have recovered. Statewide as of Saturday, there have been 802,308 Covid-19 cases and 15,587 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Sept. 24, 4pm: ‘Significant’ outbreak at rehab facility; ninth county death related to Covid-19
A total of 27 residents and four staff members of Watsonville Post Acute Center have tested positive for Covid-19 since July 19, and the facility has enacted several safety and infection protocols to try to combat the virus’ spread.
The most recent cases—two patients—were announced Wednesday.
The patients are being kept in isolation, and the employees are in self-isolation at home until cleared by a physician to return to work, facility manager Gerald Hunter said in a post on the company’s website.
“The facility continues to work with Public Health and other governmental agencies to ensure the safety of both residents and staff,” he wrote.
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel during a Thursday morning press conference called the number of cases “a very significant and worrisome outbreak.”
It is unclear how the outbreak started, Newel said, but was likely an employee, since residents typically do not leave.
The center, Newel added, was following all necessary cleaning and safety protocols.
“From everything we’ve seen, they were doing everything possible to prevent this type of outbreak and following all of the guidelines,” she said.
Also at the press conference, Newel announced the county’s ninth Covid-19-related death, this one a Latinx woman in her 60s. County officials are waiting for confirmation that an additional two deaths were caused by the virus, Newel said.
The county now has 2,319 cases of Covid-19, 306 of which are active. A total of 2,000 patients have recovered, and 149 required hospitalization, Newel said.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 787,470 Covid-19 cases and 15,204 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County remains on the red tier of California’s four-tier system, and will stay there for at least another two weeks, Newel said. The less restrictive tier allows some businesses and schools to reopen. Some private schools, she added, have done so.
After appearing to taper off, Newel said Covid-19 cases have started to rise again. Two factors, she explained, were parties over Labor Day weekend and also the number of fire victims seeking shelter when the CZU Lightning Complex displaced people from their homes.
Hunter announced on Sept. 18 that two patients had tested positive, and four days later that number jumped to 25. The first cases—two employees—were announced on July 19. On Aug. 4 an additional employee that did not work with patients also tested positive.
Overall, the virus continues to have a disproportionate impact on people of color and residents of South County, with 66.5% of cases being among Latino residents, who represent just 33.5% of the population. County officials have said that those numbers may stem in part from the fact that people of color are more likely to be essential workers.
Also, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board voted unanimously last week to develop stronger rules to protect workers in all industries from COVID-19 in the workplace. The board was responding to a petition submitted by a coalition of workers and advocates urging the body to take emergency action as workplaces have become ground zero in the fight against Covid-19.
A Cal/OSHA press release noted that the pandemic has devastated the meat processing, garment, grocery and fast food industries—with disproportionate impacts to low-income workers and immigrants. The agency will move forward to adopt an emergency standard as soon as November.
Health Department Director Mimi Hall stressed that the public should keep following social distancing guidelines.
Challenging locals to stay to not get complacent, Hall added that the possibility of a vaccine is not “the magic bullet.”
“It takes a lot of action on behalf of every single person in our community to do what we’ve been asking all of these months: to take these precautions that ensure that we are reducing the risk of transmission and exposure,” she explained.
Additionally, Newel said Californians can expect guidance soon on how to safely celebrate Halloween.
She added that she has seen a draft version of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order and that gatherings will not be allowed.
“No haunted houses. No big parties, no small parties,” Newel said. “We will be messaging on, if you’re going to trick-or-treat, how to do that more safely.” For information on the nursing home outbreak, visit watsonvillepostacute.com.
Sept. 16, 11am: Eighth county resident dies of Covid-19
An eighth county resident has died of Covid-19, the Santa Cruz County Public Health Division said in a press release today.
The resident was a Hispanic man in his early 40s who lived in South County. He had underlying health conditions, but the county said Covid-19 was the primary cause of his death.
The county noted there is still a disproportionate number of Covid-19 cases among South County residents and in the Latino community. The county’s health dashboard shows more than 62% of all Covid-19 cases have been among South County residents, despite that area representing just 29% of the county population. More than half of all known cases countywide have been in Watsonville.
There have been 2,096 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 236 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday evening by county health officials.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 760,013 Covid-19 cases and 14,451 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Sept. 15, 12pm: Supervisor Zach Friend hosts discussion with vaccinologist
This evening, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend will host another one of his weekly virtual town hall calls related to the Covid-19 pandemic—this one with an internationally recognized vaccinologist with more than two decades of experience.
Pediatrics professor Maria Elena Bottazzi is co-director of Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Bottazzi currently serves as co-chair of the New Vaccines and Therapeutics Taskforce of the Lancet Commission on Covid-19.
The discussion will be held from 6-7pm. To join the conversation, call 831-454-2222. The meeting identification number is 145384#.
There have been 2,096 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 236 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday evening by county health officials. Seven people in the county have died from Covid-19, 135 have required hospitalization, and 1,853 have recovered. Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 757,778 Covid-19 cases and 14,385 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Statewide, the outlook on the pandemic has improved slightly. The Los Angeles Times reported that the seven-day average positive test rate statewide has dropped to 3.5%, the lowest level since March and that the number of new Covid-19 cases is at its lowest level since June. The San Jose Mercury News reported that hospitalizations have dropped to their lowest level since early April.
The overlapping consequences of poor air quality from California’s fires on top of the pandemic could still have troubling implications for people’s lungs, and county health officials say locals should monitor the conditions. A number of websites and apps track air quality. The county recommends using air.mbard.org.
Sept. 8, 1:30pm: Economic restrictions loosen
Santa Cruz County today moved into a less restrictive tier of the state’s new Covid-19 reopening plan, allowing some businesses to reopen their indoor services with capacity limits and other modifications.
Personal care services such as waxing, nails and massage, restaurants, places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers, along with museums, zoos and aquariums can be open indoors with modifications starting today.
The county, along with four others including neighboring Santa Clara, moved from the Purple or Widespread Tier to the Red or Substantial Tier of the state’s reopening plan.
School openings for in-person instruction can only be considered once a county has been in the Red Tier for 14 days and are ultimately decided by local school boards and administrators, the county noted in a press release today.
In that press release, the county also warned that they expect another surge of Covid-19 cases after some 77,000 people had to evacuate due to the CZU Lightning Complex fire. Many people who had to evacuate may have had to mix with other people from outside their household. If the rates of Covid-19 rise, the county may wind up back in the Purple or Widespread Tier and see a return of economic restrictions.
There have been 1,931 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 198 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials. Seven people in the county have died from Covid-19, 127 have required hospitalization, and 1,726 have recovered.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 735,235 Covid-19 cases and 13,726 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Sept. 4, 5pm: Economic relief options
Santa Cruz County is offering a variety of relief options for individuals, businesses and groups affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis.
The Santa Cruz County Cares Recovery Program is offering up to $15,000 per eligible small business in one-time funds, with up to $1 million that can be distributed through the program. Grants are also available for nonprofits and community partners that are responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. The funding comes from the federal CARES Act.
Applications for the CARES Act grant funds are being accepted through Sept. 15. Learn more at sccvitality.org/Business/CARESGrant.aspx.
The county has additionally launched a CARES Rental Assistance Program for residents in unincorporated areas of the county who meet certain income requirements and have experienced income losses related to Covid-19.
Grant recipients will be selected through a list prioritized through a random drawing. The deadline to apply for the first random drawing is Sept. 15. Learn more at cabinc.org or sccoplanning.com/PlanningHome/Housing.aspx.
Beach restrictions
Santa Cruz County is reminding would-be beachgoers that local beaches are closed for much of the Labor Day weekend.
Beaches in unincorporated parts of the county will be closed from 5am Saturday, Sept. 5, though 5pm Monday, Sept. 7, except for 4-8pm on Saturday and Sunday. People will be allowed to make beach crossings all weekend to access the ocean for activities such as surfing, paddle-boarding, boogie-boarding, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. The city of Santa Cruz has the same restrictions in effect for Main and Cowell beaches, and other jurisdictions around Monterey Bay have also enacted closures aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
State beaches will be closed, too, and several state parks in the county are closed or have restrictions in place due to the CZU Lightning Complex fire.
Poor air quality is also a potential issue for outdoor time this weekend. Santa Cruz is under a regional heat advisory from 11am Saturday through 9pm Monday, and the anticipated heat wave is accompanied by a stagnant air pattern that may keep skies smoky. Air quality information is available at air.mbard.org.
There have been 1,923 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, including 273 active known cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials. Seven people in the county have died from Covid-19, 126 have required hospitalization, and more than 1,600 have recovered.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 717,177 Covid-19 cases and 13,327 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Aug. 28, 3:30pm: State creates new reopening system
Gov. Gavin Newsom today revealed what he called a new, more “stringent” four-tiered reopening system that allows counties to open their economies depending on Covid-19 case and test positivity rates.
The new system replaces the state’s data monitoring list and removes many of the old benchmarks counties had to meet to reopen swaths of their economies amid the ongoing pandemic. Now, counties can begin to reopen if their news cases per 100,000 residents per day and positivity rates start to decline.
These are the four tiers in the new system:
Thirty-eight counties, including Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Monterey, were in the Purple or Widespread Tier as of today. Each county will be reassessed every Tuesday starting on Sept. 8, Newsom said.
A county must spend at least 21 days in one tier before it can move to a less restrictive one, and it must meet the metrics for the less restrictive tier for 14 consecutive days.
However, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties could soon move from the Widespread Tier to the less-restrictive Substantial Tier because they had already spent 14 days off the old state monitoring list, Newsom said.
Santa Cruz County should move to the Substantial Tier on Sept. 8 barring an increase in case rates, according to a county press release today.
That move would allow several sectors deemed non-essential by state health orders to reopen their indoor operations with modifications. Restaurants, for example, could offer indoor services at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
Some businesses will not have to wait until that change comes to reopen. Barbershops and hair salons can reopen Monday, Aug. 31, and so too can malls at 25% capacity. Other personal care services such as nails and waxing are still not permitted to operate indoors at this time.
School openings for in-person instruction can only be considered once a county has been in the Substantial Tier for 14 days and are subject to decisions by local school boards and administrators. No Santa Cruz County schools may open for in-person instruction at this time.
County- and industry-specific restrictions can be found at covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
Counties that do not meet their current tier’s metrics will be moved back into more restrictive tiers. If a county’s case and test positivity rate fall into two different tiers, the county will be assigned to the more restrictive tier.
Newsom also said the state has an “emergency break” set up in case counties see spikes in hospitalizations or ICU visits. Click here to watch Newsom’s full briefing, including an update on the fires around the state.
There have been 1,735 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, including 270 known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials. Some 120 people have required hospitalization while sick with Covid-19, and 1,458 people have recovered.
The county previously reported that eight residents had died of Covid-19. Since the county found out one of the people who died was a resident of Mexico and not of Santa Cruz County, the county dashboard now reflects that seven residents have died of Covid-19.
For local information on COVID-19, go to santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Residents may also call 831-454-4242 from 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday.
Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 683,529 Covid-19 cases and 12,550 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Aug. 18, 4pm: Beach restrictions set for Labor Day weekend
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted today to put some restrictions on beach access during the Labor Day weekend.
Beaches in the unincorporated parts of the county will be closed from 5am Saturday, Sept. 5, though 5pm Monday, Sept. 7, except for 4-8pm on Saturday and Sunday. People will also be allowed to make beach crossings all weekend to access the ocean for activities such as surfing, paddle-boarding, boogie-boarding, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking
The restrictions are aimed at discouraging non-essential travel amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Other jurisdictions throughout the Monterey Bay area are expected to have similar beach restrictions in place, according to a Santa Cruz County press release.
There have been 1,505 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,091 are known active cases, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials. Eight people in the county have died from Covid-19.
Statewide, there have been 628,031 Covid-19 cases and 11,242 deaths, according to information last updated Sunday by the California Department of Public Health.
Aug. 17, 2pm: County removed from state watch list
Santa Cruz County is no longer on the state data monitoring list as of Friday, Aug. 14, the county announced today in a press release.
“Being removed from the monitoring list is an indication of reduced spread of Covid-19 and is the first step toward the lifting of economic measures and school restrictions,” according to the county. “However, counties must be off the data monitoring list for 14 consecutive days for measures and restrictions to be lifted, and no immediate changes to those operations may be implemented at this time.”
Businesses that anticipate they might be able to reopen can find sector-specific guidance on the county website.
School reopenings will be subject to decisions by local school boards and administrators. Santa Cruz County schools had previously set a plan for distance learning with the start of the school year.
The county noted that people should continue taking steps to protect themselves and the community from Covid-19, including avoiding indoor gatherings with people not in the same household, maintaining physical distancing, and wearing a face mask.
If rates of Covid-19 increase again, the county may find itself back on the state watch list.
There have been 1,454 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, of which 1,055 are known active cases, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials. Eight people in the county have died from Covid-19, 107 people have required hospitalization, and 392 have recovered.
Statewide, there have been 621,562 Covid-19 cases and 11,224 deaths, according to information last updated Saturday by the California Department of Public Health.
Aug. 14, 11am: County death toll rises
Two more people in Santa Cruz County have died from Covid-19, county health officials announced today. That brings the total deaths to eight following two deaths last week.
The county released more information about the two people who died last week, saying in a statement that one was a man in his early 60s and another was a woman in her late 90s. Both had underlying health conditions, and Covid-19 was a contributing factor in their deaths. The woman was hospitalized for more than two weeks, according to the county, while the man did not seek medical care.
The county urged residents to seek medical care when they need it, noting that the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides access to coverage for Covid-19 testing and related treatment from a qualified Medi-Cal provider at no cost to the person being treated. This coverage is for people whose insurance doesn’t cover Covid-19 care or who don’t have insurance at all.
More than 100 people in the county have required hospitalization while sick with Covid-19.
There have been 1,371 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, including 989 known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials. Those numbers may be an undercount, though, due to a computer glitch that created a backlog of almost 300,000 tests in the state’s reporting program. The glitch has been fixed, but a county spokesperson said today it could still take a few more days for the disease control team to review all of the backlogged data from the state.
Statewide, as of Wednesday, there have been 593,141 Covid-19 cases and 10,808 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Aug. 4, 4pm: County approves fine for not following health orders
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to approve a fine for violations of a state or local health order, including the requirement that people wear a face covering in certain situations to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
Violations of state and local health orders are already a misdemeanor under state law, with penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail. The new county code would allow for “lower-level remedies,” with a fine of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense within a year, and $500 for the third offense within a year. The county health orders are aligned with the continued statewide stay-at-home order. More details about the orders, including face covering requirements, can be found on the county health agency website.
Aug. 4, 3pm: County launches safety program for businesses
Santa Cruz County launched a program offering signage to businesses that follow public health guidelines. The voluntary “Blue Check Program” will give businesses a sign to show customers that they are complying with health and safety practices amid the pandemic. To receive the signage, businesses must show they enforce physical distancing, the use of face coverings, limits on the number of people in a store at one time, and disinfection of shared equipment, among other things. Businesses interested in participating can learn more at sccvitality.org.
Covid-19 response webinar
City of Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings, Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel and consultant Nicole Young will host a discussion about the local Covid-19 response and recovery on Friday, Aug. 7, at 4pm. Learn more about how to join the event here.
A virtual town hall about Covid-19 is also planned for Thursday, Aug. 6, for Spanish-speaking business owners. Santa Cruz County health officials and other community leaders will share information and answer questions. Anyone interested in participating can learn more at elpajarocdc.org on our events page and at tinyurl.com/covidysunegocio.
City park closures
The city of Santa Cruz will close some facilities starting Friday, Aug. 7, and cancel some programs for the fall 2020 season. Cancellations for fall include athletics and leagues along with community events at the Civic Auditorium, and closures include parts of DeLaveaga Park and Laurel Park. The city will continue to provide online programming, and a fall activity guide will post next week. For more information, visit santacruzparksandrec.com.
Case numbers
There have been 1,196 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Monday by county health officials. Four people in the county have died from Covid-19, 90 people have required hospitalization, and 367 have recovered. Statewide as of today, there have been 519,427 Covid-19 cases and 9,501 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
July 27, 5:20pm: Closures go into effect Tuesday
The continued Covid-19 surge in Santa Cruz County is triggering additional business closures starting at 12:01am Tuesday, July 28.
The California Department of Public Health has added Santa Cruz County to its order modifying or closing several types of businesses, according to a county press release. The modifications affect gyms, personal care services, places of worship and cultural ceremonies, offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors, and indoor shopping malls.
Retail and outdoor dining are not affected.
The California Department of Public Health flagged Santa Cruz County last week due its growing case count. Find out more about what’s ahead in our coverage here.
July 27, 4pm: New Covid-19 tool for employers; family lunch extension
The prevalence of Covid-19 in the community is increasing, and concern over workplace transmission has grown along with it.
To minimize the impacts among employees and to speed up contact tracing investigations of Covid-19 cases, Santa Cruz County is providing local employers with tools to help manage coronavirus transmission. Those tools include detailed guidance on prevention and management of workplace cases, as well as information on the rights and responsibilities of employers. The employer toolkit is accessible at santacruzhealth.org/employers, with a link available on the main coronavirus site at santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus.
The county urges employers to continue social distancing protocols and mandate basic safety practices, including face coverings, staying home when sick and washing hands frequently with soap and water.
For local information on Covid-19, go to santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. Additionally, residents may call 831-454-4242 between the hours of 8am and 6pm, Monday-Friday.
Also, the annual Summer Lunch program, sponsored by La Manzana Community Resources, a program of Community Bridges, has been extended into August. Although it was originally slated to wrap up at the end of July, that would leave kids without access to free lunches for the last several weeks of summer vacation.
Kids can pick up free lunches at sites in Santa Cruz and Watsonville through mid-August. Santa Cruz sites will remain open until August 7, and Watsonville sites are open until August 14.
For more information, text “Lunches” to 833-421-0991. Free meals will be provided to all children through age 18—no eligibility documentation needed—from 12pm-1pm daily.
There have been 920 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials. Four people in the county have died from Covid-19, 69 have required hospitalization, and 343 have recovered. Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 460,550 Covid-19 cases and 8,445 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
July 20, 5:15pm: Santa Cruz County schools to use distance learning in fall
Santa Cruz County schools will start the upcoming school year with distance learning due to the continued surge in local Covid-19 cases.
The move comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom last week laid out plans for how schools should reopen amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. For schools to have in-person classes this fall, Newsom said that the county in which the school is located must be off the state’s monitoring list for 14 consecutive days.
Santa Cruz County met the state criteria to be on the state monitoring list as of today, according to a press release from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Though the county does meet one of the criteria for the state monitoring list, based on the positive tests over the past two weeks, Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin tells GT over email that county officials “have not been notified that we are on the watchlist. We expect to be.”
Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said at a press conference Thursday that the county is teetering close to the state thresholds that would require more industries to shut down.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District had already decided to begin its school year with distance learning for all students when classes resume on Aug. 17.
The county framework for reopening schools can be viewed here.
County officials also said today that a resident at the Salvation Army Shelter in Watsonville tested positive for Covid-19. All shelter residents and staff were then tested, and seven of them tested positive for Covid-19. They are all asymptomatic, according to a county press release.
Shelter operations have been temporarily suspended following the known cases, and “shelter residents have been relocated to support isolation,” the county said. “Following the isolation period and a thorough site cleaning, operations of the shelter are expected to resume.” More information on the county’s response to Covid-19 in the homeless community can be found at homelessactionpartnership.org.
There have been 772 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, including 448 active known cases, according to information last updated Friday by county health officials. Three people in the county have died from Covid-19, 59 people have required hospitalization, and 321 have recovered.
Statewide as of today, there have been 391,538 Covid-19 cases and 7,694 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
July 17, 4:45pm: Newsom issues guidelines for schools
Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced new criteria on how schools should operate amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here are the five parts of Newsom’s plan:
- For schools to have in-person classes this fall, Newsom said that the county in which the school is located must be off the state’s monitoring list for 14 consecutive days.
- All staff and students in the third grade and up must wear a mask at all times. Students in the second grade and below are encouraged to wear a mask or a face shield.
- All staff must maintain a six-foot distance between each other and students at all times. Schools will be required to have daily temperature checks and use hand-washing stations.
- School staff will be required to get tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis and the state contact tracing workforce will be directed to prioritize schools.
- For schools that can’t return to in-person classes, teachers will be required to have live daily interactions with their students. Teachers must assign work equivalent to that done during in-person classes. English language learners and special education students should have adapted lessons.
Our partner paper San Jose Inside has more details on Newsom’s schools plan.
As we reported this week, at Pajaro Valley Unified School District they’re planning to begin the school year on Aug. 17 with distance learning for all students.
The decisions on how to start the next school year come as Covid-19 cases continue to surge in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said at a press conference Thursday that, given the rapidly rising Covid-19 case rate, the potential for community spread is now quite high.
There have been 736 known total Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, including 412 known active cases, according to information last updated Thursday evening by county health officials. Three people in the county have died from Covid-19, 58 have required hospitalization, and 321 have recovered.
Statewide as of today, there have been 366,164 Covid-19 cases and 7,475 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
July 15, 11:15am: METRO lands federal grant
Santa Cruz METRO received a $20.6 million federal grant to help the transit agency deal with the coronavirus crisis.
The money comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed in March. The funds target operating expenses, including reimbursement for operating costs, lost revenue, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and paying the administrative leave of personnel due to reduced service.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on public transit ridership and infrastructure across the Central Coast,” Congressman Jimmy Panetta said Tuesday in a press release. “This CARES Act grant will help the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District support agency operations and purchase personal protective equipment to keep its essential workers and valuable customers safe.”
METRO Board Chair Mike Rotkin said in a statement that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused METRO significant revenue losses through local sales tax revenue, farebox revenue and state funding. He said the grant will offset lost revenue for the “short-term.”
In other recent Santa Cruz METRO news, its decision to increase its passenger capacity by 50% in an effort to accommodate more riders has raised concerns within the union representing the bus operators still working during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have more on that in a story here.
July 13, 3pm: Newsom rolls back reopening statewide
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a statewide rollback on reopening effective today as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations rise in California.
Bars must cease all operations, both indoors and outdoors, effective today. Indoor operations must now also be closed for restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment venues, zoos, museums and cardrooms. Newsom said every county in the state must “expand opportunities for outdoor operations in these specific categories.”
This rollback reflects the “dimmer switch” approach that has served as the foundation to reopening the economy, Newsom said in a video statement, where businesses may have to go through periods of opening and closing as coronavirus trend lines become “points of concern.”
Newsom issued additional restrictions for 29 counties on the state’s watch list. Those counties will have to close indoor operations for fitness centers, places of worship, hair salons, malls, and more.
Watch Newsom’s full briefing here.
July 13, 11:30am: County conversation looks at disparities
An online conversation Tuesday evening will discuss the effects of Covid-19 on the Latino community as the new coronavirus continues to disproportionately affect Latinos. In California, 55% of all Covid-19 cases are among Latinos, including two of every three cases among children, according to the Santa Cruz County Public Health Division.
The virtual discussion on Tuesday, July 14, from 6-7:30pm, will be hosted by the Thriving Immigrants Collaborative, including steering agencies Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County and Salud Para La Gente. Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel will join the conversation, which will “include discussion of current trends and measures the community can take to protect itself,” according to a county press release.
The event will be available in English, Spanish and Mixteco. Registration is required and can be completed here.
The conversation comes as surging coronavirus cases are leading a growing number of counties across the state to revise their reopening plans. More than 20 counties are on the state’s watch list due to showing “indicators of concern” such as increasing transmission and hospitalization rates from the coronavirus.
There have been 569 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Sunday by county health officials. Three people in the county have died from Covid-19, 54 have required hospitalization, and 308 have recovered.
Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 320,804 Covid-19 cases and 7,017 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
For local information on Covid-19, go to santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “COVID19” to 211211. County residents can also call 831-454-4242 from 8am-6pm Monday through Friday.
July 11, 6:40pm Poet and Patriot closes, blames pandemic
The Poet and Patriot, Santa Cruz’s Irish-themed downtown bar, is closed and will not reopen, the business announced on Instagram today.
“We have been a Santa Cruz staple for 38 years and it was not an easy decision to come to, but unfortunately, it’s another tragedy of Covid 19,” the Poet’s post stated.
Thomas Todd—the bar’s former trivia night host, who recently moved from northern California to New York—found out about the news through a friend on social media and was crushed.
“It just broke my heart,” says Todd, who hosted Sunday trivia nights at the Poet from 2009 through 2014. “Absolutely broke my heart. I haven’t been in California for five months. I had so many plans to go back, and one of the top three places I knew that I had to stop by and see was the Poet and the Patriot.”
He adds that, when a business closes under normal circumstances, there is usually a big party, one last hurrah, when everyone gets to say goodbye in person. With the Poet, it doesn’t sound like that will be happening, says Todd, a former Jeopardy contestant, who coped with the pandemic and his unexpected joblessness in his own way by launching an online trivia company that’s grown more successful than he ever imagined it could.
The Poet and Patriot painted its recent decision as an agonizing one.
“We want to extend a huge thank you to our friends/family/patrons for supporting us through thick and thin,” the Poet’s Instagram post stated. “We know we won’t be the only business to reach this fate but it certainly puts a hole in our hearts. Sláinte to the poets, to the patriots, to the weirdos, to the labor union workers, EVERYONE who felt at home in the Poet. Always remember the tiniest waves can still rock the boat. Goodbye for now.”
As the post indicates, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on business has been severe. Many downtown businesses have struggled, and the Poet was not the first downtown bar to close. The pub and restaurant 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall closed in March.
Some businesses in Santa Cruz County have been able to pull in forgivable Payment Protection Program loans from the federal government. More than 4,000 businesses and nonprofits have benefited from the federal assistance so far, as GT reported on Thursday.
There have been 568 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Friday night by county health officials. Three people in the county have died from Covid-19, 53 have required hospitalization, and 302 have recovered. Statewide as of Friday, there have been 312,344 Covid-19 cases and 6,945 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
July 8, 2:30pm: Testing troubles
Obtaining a Covid-19 test in Watsonville is still a challenge for some, as long waits and limited options are plaguing those who might have been exposed and are asymptomatic but need a test to find out if they can safely return to work. Our partner paper The Pajaronian has more details on testing capacity and demand.
In two stories this week, Good Times talked with local officials and health experts about the messaging around Covid-19 and what people can do to stay safe as case numbers continue to climb.
The county reported 36 new known cases of Covid-19 on Monday, surpassing the previous record set on Friday, July 3, with 29 new cases. But Monday’s tally includes new cases recorded over the July 4-5 holiday weekend.
“Each of the last three Tuesdays have included a ‘spike’ that is artificial in that it’s an accumulation of weekend cases,” Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin tells GT over email. “We just can’t continue having public health nurses working seven days a week.”
There have been 503 total known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials. Three people in the county have died from Covid-19, 51 have required hospitalization, and 289 have recovered. Some 67% of ICU beds in the county are available, according to state data, and 94% of ventilators in the county are available.
Statewide as of Monday, there have been 277,774 Covid-19 cases and 6,448 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
July 2, 11:40am: Cases continue surging
There have been more than 100 new known cases of Covid-19 in Santa Cruz County in less than two weeks as the coronavirus continues spreading across the state.
The past two weeks have included the two largest single-day jumps in new cases in the county since it started tracking the spread of the virus in early March, with 21 new cases on June 22 and 22 new cases on Monday, June 29. The total number of known cases rose from 302 on June 21 to 410 as of Wednesday, according to county health data. That means the past two weeks have accounted for around one-fourth of all known cases in the county.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered bars and restaurants in 19 counties to close their indoor dining options for at least three weeks, as the state tries to quell the increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases. Santa Cruz was not included on Newsom’s list.
Three people in Santa Cruz County have died from Covid-19, including one for whom Covid-19 was a significant contributing factor in his death but not the primary cause. While 48 people have required hospitalization due to Covid-19, 254 people have recovered. Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 232,657 Covid-19 cases and 6,090 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
June 25, 12:15pm: Santa Cruz County beaches to reopen
Santa Cruz County’s daily restrictions on beaches will be lifted Friday, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel announced Thursday.
“It’s become impossible for law enforcement to continue to enforce that closure,” Newel said. “People were not willing to be governed anymore, in that regard.”
The local shelter-in-place order will also be allowed to be expire on July 6. The county will then follow the statewide stay-at-home order.
June 25, 10:15am: County records third death related to Covid-19
A third Santa Cruz County resident has died of complications from Covid-19, county health officials announced today.
The man, who died last week, was in his mid-90s and in hospice care. He lived in mid-county and is thought to have contracted the illness from close contact with an infected person.
“Covid-19 was a significant contributing factor in his death, but not the primary cause,” according to a county press release. “After consultation with state public health officials, the county is listing his death as Covid-19-related.”
In a written statement, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said, “Our hearts go out to those whose lives were touched by this individual. We at County Public Health continue to do all we can to assure that these occasions are as few as possible, and want to remind everyone that COVID-19 remains a significant threat to all Santa Cruz County residents, but especially the elderly and medically vulnerable among us.”
The first death in the county from Covid-19 was a male in his early 70s on March 28, and the second death was a male in his late 60s on April 14.
There have been 337 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Wednesday evening by county health officials. Forty-one people in the county have required hospitalization, and 228 people have recovered. Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been 190,222 Covid-19 cases and 5,632 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health. The state has a public watch list of counties that are showing “indicators of concern” related to the spread of the coronavirus as reopenings continue. Neighboring Santa Clara County to the north is on that list. Santa Cruz County currently is not.
June 24, 11:30am: Santa Cruz County sees biggest single-day jump in Covid-19 cases
Santa Cruz County on Monday saw its largest single-day jump in known Covid-19 cases since it started tracking the spread of the virus in early March.
A spike of 21 additional cases was recorded Monday. The county’s active known cases reached 107 according to data last updated Tuesday, raising the total case count to 330. Only 38 of those county residents have required hospitalization, and 221 of them have recovered. Two people have died.
Cases in Watsonville also continue to rise, as nearly half of all known cases have been identified in the county’s southernmost city.
With 103 known cases, people between the ages of 18-34 make up the largest portion of the county’s Covid-19 cases. The county has conducted 15,020 tests to date.
June 19, 10am: Lending a “Screaming Hand” to safety
The iconic “Screaming Hand” logo has been reimagined to help raise awareness about the importance of clean hands amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
An updated Screaming Hand, with suds coming out of its mouth, reminds people that “Clean Hands Save Lives.” NHS Inc. donated the image to Santa Cruz County, which is using it for hundreds of floor decals that will be prioritized for placement in highly trafficked public and commercial areas across the county.
The signs are available at no cost. Businesses can request a sign by emailing
co***************@gm***.com
.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after being in a public space. That’s just one of its basic tips for how to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 117,000 people nationwide.
Wearing a face covering is another way to avoid spreading the virus. All Californians are now required to wear face coverings in high-risk settings under new guidance released Thursday. Santa Cruz County has had a face covering requirement in place since April.
There have been 283 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Thursday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 36 people have required hospitalization, and 218 have recovered. Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 161,099 Covid-19 cases and 5,290 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
June 15, 12:50pm: Personal-care services reopening
After a three-month absence, the hum of hair clippers and tattoo machines is set to resume in Santa Cruz County.
The county’s Health Services Agency announced that businesses that provide personal-care services will be allowed to open on Friday, June 19. The businesses affected include hair salons, tattoo shops, nail salons, and cosmetologists, as well as providers of massage therapy, waxing, electrolysis, skin care, body art, and body piercing.
Still, it will be far from business as usual for salons and related businesses. They are now subject to new protocols designed to minimize the risk of the spread of Covid-19, including social distancing of at least six feet except when providing service that requires close contact, along with impermeable barriers between workstations. Workers are asked to wear masks and gloves at all times.
The county is also providing detailed protocols on cleaning and disinfecting for personal-care businesses, which could mean the end of such familiar touchstones of the salon experience as reception-area magazines, “test” or sample products, and water or coffee machines.
Clients and customers are also asked to wear face coverings, frequently wash hands, maintain six feet of space from others, and to stay home if they have any symptoms such as a cough or fever.
For more information, go to santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus. There have been 257 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Sunday night by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 34 have required hospitalization, and 202 have recovered. Statewide as of Saturday, there have been 148,855 Covid-19 cases and 5,063 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
June 10, 11am: Santa Cruz County prepares to open, hotels, movie theaters and bars
Santa Cruz County is ready to welcome back visitors for the summer. Health leaders released new guidance taking effect Friday, June 12, allowing hotels, motels and vacation rentals to reopen.
And that isn’t all.
The county will also welcome back many more businesses and operations—movie theaters, arcades, museums, galleries, aquariums, gyms, swimming pools, campgrounds, tasting rooms, brewpubs and bars. The new order extends partial beach closures through July 6. After that, the county will reassess beach access going forward.
Not all businesses will be ready to reopen on Friday. Local business owners and managers will first need to implement new rules set by the state, including ones for employee screening, physical distancing, disinfecting and cleaning.
Many other changes are afoot, as well. Some Santa Cruz County libraries are now open for pickup and dropoff. Visit santacruzpl.org for more information.
County school officials confirmed Monday that schools will likely reopen for the upcoming school year, in line with guidelines from the state.
The city of Santa Cruz has not yet shut down a part of Pacific Avenue for its one-block pedestrian mall. City Principal Management Analyst Ralph Dimarucut says the street closure will happen Thursday or Friday.
The Great Plates Delivered program was set to expire today, but an extension from state and federal partners will allow it to continue through July 10. The program delivers fresh, nutritious meals to older residents, while supporting restaurateurs and caterers during the Covid-19 crisis.
Be sure to check out GT’s summer preview issue—all about enjoying the season, in spite of the pandemic. We have stories on outdoor recreation, restaurants, the Beach Boardwalk, and live music. We also recently spoke with a therapist about the effect that sheltering in place has on people’s mental health—and about how to cope. Additionally, we wrote about how to stay safe while the county allows activities to resume.
There have been 239 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information updated Tuesday night by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 34 have required hospitalization, and 197 have recovered. Statewide as of Monday, there have been 133,489 Covid-19 cases and 4,697 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
June 8, 1:40pm: Santa Cruz creates Pacific Avenue pedestrian mall; Boardwalk reopening; and the effects of protests
Last week, Santa Cruz City Manager Martín Bernal authorized temporary use of public streets and outdoor areas to give restaurants and retail establishments more outdoor space to serve customers. Bernal also established new social distancing requirements for sidewalk vendors.
Businesses interested in expanding into public spaces like sidewalks, alleyways and parking spaces can apply online at choosesantacruz.com/outdoorexpansion or contact Business Liaison Rebecca Unitt at ru****@ci*************.com or 831-420-5157.
One of Bernal’s executive orders allows for the temporary closure of the 1100 block of Pacific Avenue, south of Lincoln Street and north of Cathcart Street, to vehicular and bicycle traffic starting this week—essentially creating a small pedestrian mall in downtown Santa Cruz. As of noon on Monday, city officials were unable to confirm whether Pacific Avenue would be closing today.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk had a limited reopening over the weekend, opening up the doors of eateries like Barbary Coast Restaurant, Marini’s Candies, Carousel Cones and World Grill, as well as the souvenir shop Octopus’ Garden. Rides, arcades and mini-golf are all closed. Stay tuned for more information from Good Times this week.
National unrest over the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis prompted protests across the country. That increased activity sparked concern, given that someone infected with the novel coronavirus can spread the virus before they begin showing symptoms. Although Santa Cruz County health officials have not spoken about the protests, the New York City Health Department and an official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that protesters consider getting tested.
There have been 234 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Sunday night by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 32 have required hospitalization, and 184 have recovered. Statewide as of Saturday, there have been 128,812 Covid-19 cases and 4,626 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
According to the latest information, 2.3% of those who are getting tested in Santa Cruz County are testing positive for the virus. It’s important to note that there is a lag in test results, all asymptomatic people are allowed to get tested, and no one knows how many infected people are going untested.
June 5, 11:10am: County unveils vendors for senior meal program that may soon expire
The Santa Cruz County government announced that five local food businesses have been chosen to deliver fresh, nutritious meals to hundreds of local seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Great Plates Delivered serves food to vulnerable older adults through a federal economic stimulus for restaurants. In May, Santa Cruz County sought applications from local restaurateurs and caterers to prepare and provide meals. A committee chose four restaurants and one caterer. The chosen businesses are Back Nine Grill and Bar, Johnny’s Harborside, Roaring Camp, Pearl of the Ocean, and Swing Time.
Great Plates Delivered began its meal deliveries during Memorial Day weekend, and it has now served thousands of meals to 413 participants, according to a county press release, with additional applicants pending approval. The program delivers more than 1,000 healthy meals to older adults each day, the county reported. The Area Agency on Aging, Community Bridges, 211 Santa Cruz County, Grey Bears, Senior Network Services, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Volunteer Center and the city of Watsonville all participated on the steering committee.
Great Plates Delivered will expire June 10 unless the federal government grants the state of California’s request for a 30-day extension. County leaders are awaiting FEMA’s response to the state. Seventy-five percent of Great Plates is funded through the federal CARES Act, with the state providing 18.75% and the rest coming from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.
Also this week, the county approved a plan to expand outdoor shopping and dining, local court leaders laid out a plan to resume jury trials, and SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County leader Margaret Lapiz spoke to GT about the state of contact tracing.
The pace of new coronavirus cases appears to have slowed since the county first announced its post-Mother’s Day clusters, although the lag between new infections and positive results could be longer than two weeks. There have been 221 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Thursday at 5pm by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 32 have required hospitalization, and 177 have recovered. Statewide as of Thursday, there have been 119,807 Covid-19 cases and 4,422 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Santa Cruz County health leaders cancelled yesterday’s weekly press briefing without providing a reason.
June 1, 9am: State approves county’s reopening plan
The state approved Santa Cruz County’s application to move to Stage 2 of California’s reopening plan. The approval allows activities including dining at restaurants and the reopening of barbershops and hair salons, as long as practices are in place to help limit the spread of Covid-19.
Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel issued an order Saturday that went into effect immediately. The order mostly aligns with the state’s restrictions and regulations for Stage 2, while keeping in place the requirement for face coverings and limits on beach use.
Reopening guidance from the state is available at covid19.ca.gov/roadmap and covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties.
There have been 217 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Sunday, May 31, by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 32 have required hospitalization, and 154 have recovered. Statewide as of Saturday, May 30, there have been 110,583 Covid-19 cases and 4,213 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
May 29, 12pm: Board approves county variance application
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to approve a variance application that will be submitted to the state.
The county’s application to move to Stage 2 of the state’s reopening plan now goes to the California Department of Public Health for approval. State review could take up to one week, according to county officials.
If approved, “the variance would allow local restaurants to offer limited indoor/outdoor dine-in services with modifications to protect the health and safety of staff and customers,” according to a county press release. “Barbershops/hair salons would also be allowed to offer limited services, such as haircuts, weaves and extensions, braiding, lock maintenance, wig maintenance, hair relaxing treatments and color services.”
The county does not have the authority to open up additional sectors of the economy. State guidance for establishments that would be allowed to reopen soon can be found at covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties.
There have been 206 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 30 people have required hospitalization, and 137 have recovered. Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been 101,697 Covid-19 cases and 3,973 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
May 27, 4pm: County moves up key step toward reopening
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors scheduled a special meeting for Friday, May 29, potentially charting a faster path to more reopenings under state guidelines.
The board will vote on whether to approve paperwork the county needs to submit to the state to apply for a variance. If approved by the board, the county’s application would then go to the California Department of Public Health for approval. State review could take up to one week, the county noted in a press release today. The board vote had initially been scheduled for the next regular meeting on June 2.
The variance would allow for the opening of shopping malls, swap meets, in-restaurant dining and schools—all with modifications. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said counties that have met variance requirements and received approval from the state may also allow hair salons, barbershops and dine-in restaurants to reopen.
The county does not have the authority to open up additional sectors of the economy. State guidance for establishments that could reopen can be found at covid19.ca.gov/roadmap-counties.
Friday’s Board of Supervisors meeting can be viewed online at santacruzcounty.us.
There have been 205 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information last updated Tuesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 30 people have required hospitalization, and 137 have recovered. Statewide as of Monday, there have been 96,773 Covid-19 cases and 3,814 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
May 26, 11am: Crowded beaches, reopenings expected
Over the weekend, groups of visitors crowded onto Santa Cruz County beaches, despite warnings from county Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel.
Although Monday was more low-key than previous Memorial Days, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn says sheriff’s deputies made contact with 2,240 individuals or groups on beaches over the three-day weekend. They issued 15 shelter-in-place citations and 107 parking citations. Keehn says parking citations were mostly on the North Coast, where deputies saw large crowds.
Later today, Newel is expected to release a revised shelter-in-place order allowing for more uses, including office spaces, car washes, pet grooming, and expanded childcare, as well as outdoor museums and open galleries in public spaces—all with modifications. Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he is paving the way for additional uses, including expanded retail and churches.
There have been 200 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Monday night by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, and 133 have recovered. Statewide as of Sunday, there have been 94,558 Covid-19 cases and 3,795 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health. Nationwide, the death count exceeds 98,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 1,662,000 total cases. Over the weekend, the New York Times ran an entire front page listing the names of many of those who have lost their lives, with a quick note about each of them. “They were not simply names on a list,” the Times wrote. “They were us.”
May 22, 6:30pm: County Sees Covid-19 Uptick, Clusters in Watsonville
Four clusters of Covid-19 cases have been identified in the Watsonville area, all of them associated with large family gatherings, Santa Cruz County officials announced Friday.
There have been at least 186 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the county, 78 of which have been linked to the Watsonville area. After initially showing signs of tapering off, the number of cases has increased 20% in a week’s time.
A county press release sent out Friday indicated that the recent loosening of restrictions and increased testing account for part of the jump, but the county says that the public’s failure to follow shelter-in-place orders contributed to the uptick. The nascent increase could jeopardize much-anticipated efforts to reopen more sectors of Santa Cruz County’s economy.
Investigations into the clusters are ongoing, but all have been attributed to close contact between households during family gatherings, including a multi-generational Mother’s Day celebration and another large assembly involving individuals who traveled from out of state.
In a video posted to social media, Watsonville City Manager Matt Huffaker called for the community to follow the county’s health orders during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel warned yesterday that, if the beaches become crowded this weekend, she’ll likely have to shut them down entirely for July 4.
Statewide as of Friday, there have been more than 88,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 3,600 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health. Nationwide, there have been 1.5 million confirmed cases and more than 94,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Globally, there have been close to 5 million cases and 320,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
May 21, 6pm: County to start reopening next week
A revised shelter-in-place order that will go into effect next week will put Santa Cruz County mostly in line with California’s roadmap for reopening.
The county’s new shelter-in-place order will take effect at 11:59pm Tuesday, May 26, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said in a press conference this morning. The county will have different restrictions than the state in three key areas, Newel said, including keeping the face covering requirement, restricting hotel, motel and vacation rental stays to only essential workers, and continuing limits on beach use. Otherwise, the county will align with state guidelines starting next week “assuming that there are no significant worrisome changes to our data” in the meantime, Newel said.
Earlier this week, the state relaxed its guidelines for counties to move into what state officials are calling “Stage 2” of a resilience roadmap, which allows for reopening of certain workplaces and resumption of activities considered low-risk. California’s statewide shelter-in-place order has been in effect since March 19.
Santa Cruz County has met all of the state indicators for moving into Stage 2 of reopening and is now working on applying for clearance from the state to proceed, county officials said today. That application will be up for approval by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at their June 2 meeting.
The county Health Services Agency also launched a new website showing its progress on reopening and providing information about its SAVE Lives initiative. Led by longtime health-care executive Margaret Lapiz, SAVE Lives will offer a framework for allowing businesses to reopen in compliance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide plan. The county’s SAVE Lives website offers industry-specific guidance on operations, information on the county Economic Recovery Council, and an interactive map with details for local testing sites, including who can be tested.
The website is at santacruzhealth.org/savelives.
There have been 174 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to updated information provided Wednesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, and 127 have recovered. Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been more than 84,000 Covid-19 cases and 3,436 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
May 20, 6pm: Tracking local Covid-19 cases
Around the country, the coronavirus is taking a disproportionately heavy toll on people in racial and ethnic minority groups, both in the number of cases of the illness and the death rate from it. Factors such as living conditions, work environments, underlying health conditions, and access to care may all play a role in these disparities, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
California is no exception, with statewide data showing black and Latino Californians face a higher share of fatalities relative to their portion of the population, according to an analysis by the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s a perfect storm to create a disadvantage in these communities, that we need to respond to. And we are,” California’s state health officer Dr. Sonia Y. Angell told the New York Times last month.
In Santa Cruz County, some disparity can be seen in the rate of Covid-19 cases among Hispanic and Latino people compared to their share of the county’s population.
Of the 168 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County as of Tuesday, 40.48% have been among Hispanic and Latino people, who make up 34.1% of the county population according to U.S. Census Bureau Data. Another 54.76% of cases have been among white and Caucasian people, who make up 56.9% of the population, and 4.76% of cases have been among people who identify as another race or ethnicity.
Santa Cruz County health officials are also offering a look at where the Covid-19 cases have been locally. Watsonville has had the highest number of cases, with 60 known cases of Covid-19, followed by unincorporated parts of the county with 45 cases. There have been 43 cases in the city of Santa Cruz, six cases each in Capitola and Scotts Valley, and there are eight cases under investigation.
Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, 25 have needed hospitalization, and 125 have recovered. The county is regularly updating this information and has more details, including cases by age and gender, on their website.
Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been more than 84,000 Covid-19 cases and 3,436 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
May 19, 1:30pm: Santa Cruz city offices reopening
After shutting down almost all in-person operations, the city of Santa Cruz has started reopening some of its public office counters, City Manager Martín Bernal announced in a May 17 newsletter email.
This week, the city clerk’s front desk is open, as is the fire administration’s office. Starting Tuesday, May 26, the public works counter will be open Monday-Friday from 7am-12pm to the public and from 12-3:30pm by appointment, city spokesperson Ralph Dimarucut says.
Bernal encourages residents to check the city’s website at cityofsantacruz.com before going in, as many services are available online. The city will update its website with additional information as other services open up. Bernal reminds members of the public that face coverings are mandatory, social distancing guidelines will be enforced, and anyone who’s sick should stay home.
Many local families and nonprofits need help, and the United Way of Santa Cruz County has announced that federal Emergency Food and Shelter money is available for emergency food and shelter programs in Santa Cruz County. Supplemental funds are also available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The total amount available locally is $340,000. The county’s Emergency Food and Shelter Board will determine how the funds get distributed after evaluating submitted proposals. Local government and private nonprofit organizations may be eligible to apply. For more information visit unitedwaysc.org/efsp. The application deadline is 4pm on Wednesday, May 27.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that 24 counties have self-attested and submitted containment strategies to the state, potentially allowing their stores to reopen for in-store shopping and their restaurants to reopen for on-site dining. Santa Cruz County is not among the listed counties.
The California counties that have applied are predominantly rural—the nearest one being San Benito County. Counties must meet certain benchmarks in order to reopen for additional uses.
There have been 165 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Monday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, and 125 have recovered. Statewide as of Sunday, there have been more than 81,000 Covid-19 cases and 3,334 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
May 18, 4pm: Family food assistance available
A new state program will offer food support to families in need amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The program will provide access to food through a Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) card for families with children who receive free or reduced-price meals, according to a press release from the nonprofit group Community Bridges. Families will receive up to $365 per eligible child to use on food.
The new program “supports the nutritional needs of underserved children in our communities and is helping fill a gap where free school lunches and afterschool programs, who cannot operate or provide food, would usually help,” Community Bridges CEO Ray Cancino said in a statement.
Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but who do not receive CalFresh, CalWorks, Medi-Cal, or Foster Care, must apply online before June 30 to receive their P-EBT card. The online application will be available beginning Friday, May 22, at ca.p-ebt.org.
There have been 163 known Covid-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Sunday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from Covid-19, and 124 have recovered. Statewide as of Saturday, there have been more than 78,000 Covid-19 cases and 3,261 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 30, 4:30pm: New county order eases some restrictions
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel extended the county shelter-in-place order today, adding some beach limitations and easing other restrictions.
The revised order comes after more than a month of county requirements aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus locally. Some of the biggest changes, which will take effect at 11:59pm on Friday, May 1, include easing restrictions around moving residences and allowing activities such as construction, landscaping, real estate and golfing as long as people practice social distancing.
As we reported earlier, beaches will be entirely off-limits from 11am-5pm every day under the new order. People will be allowed to traverse beaches for water-based activities such as surfing, paddleboarding, boogie boarding, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Outside of the 11am-5pm closures, people can also access beaches for “recreational activities to promote physical and mental health.”
The new order is in effect until further notice from the county, with no set expiration date.
There have been 131 known COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Wednesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from COVID-19, and 88 have recovered. Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been more tham 48,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,900 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 30, 9am: County restricts beach access following weekend crowds
Santa Cruz County is putting new beach restrictions into effect starting this weekend, citing weekend crowds along the coastline.
Beaches will be off-limits from 11am-5pm as part of an updated shelter-in-place order expected to be issued this week by Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel.
People will be allowed to traverse beaches for water-based activities such as surfing, paddleboarding, boogie boarding, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Outside of the 11am-5pm closures, people can also access beaches for “recreational activities to promote physical and mental health,” according to a county press release.
The county prohibits non-exercise related activities such as sitting, reclining, standing, sunbathing and sightseeing on beaches under restrictions already in place aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
“Despite warnings against travelling to Santa Cruz County for beach access and against congregating on beaches, local law enforcement spent the weekend responding to numerous issues all along our coastline,” Sheriff Jim Hart said in a statement. “Unfortunately, these actions are necessary to protect the health and welfare of our most vulnerable residents. The Sheriff’s Office, the police departments and State Parks will do everything we can to support the Health Officer and enforce her revised order.”
April 29, 1:15pm: County selects recovery leader
Santa Cruz County has selected a leader to steer the community through reopening after more than a month of restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
Margaret Lapiz will lead SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County. She “will work with the County Health Services Agency with support from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to increase COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and quarantine/isolation services,” according to a county press release issued today.
Lapiz brings 25 years of experience in health care operations and strategy. She was previously an executive vice president for the Permanente Medical Group and supported leadership program expansions at Netflix and the Aspen Institute. Lapiz has an MBA and Masters of Public Health from UC Berkeley.
Funding secured by Community Foundation Santa Cruz County will help cover costs related to the reopening effort, “including Lapiz’ position, enhanced testing capabilities, and contact tracing systems,” according to the county.
“As we continue the hard work of flattening the curve, we must turn an eye towards large-scale recovery efforts,” Mimi Hall, director of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, said in a statement. “The County is committed to easing the shelter-in-place restrictions so we can jumpstart our economy, but we must have safeguards in place.”
There have been 127 known COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Tuesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from COVID-19, and 83 have recovered. Statewide, as of Monday, there have been more than 45,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,800 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 23, 2:30pm: Face coverings will be required starting Friday night
A face coverings requirement will go into effect at 11:59pm Friday under an order signed today by Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel. It will be in effect until further notice from Newel.
The order, aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, generally requires businesses to take measures such as posting signs reminding people to wear face coverings.
Wearing face coverings during outdoor exercise is “recommended but not required.” People are still required to maintain at least six feet of separation from each other.
As we reported Tuesday, the order does not apply to children under the age of 12. Children under two years old are not supposed to wear face coverings due to the risk of suffocation.
Read the full order here for more details on the requirements and exceptions: bit.ly/SCCfacecoverings. There have been 114 known COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Wednesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from COVID-19, and 62 have recovered. Statewide as of Tuesday, there have been more than 35,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,300 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 21, 1:30pm: Face covering requirement coming soon
Santa Cruzans will soon be required to wear face coverings for many trips out of their homes under a new county order coming this week.
The order will come from Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, according to a county press release issued today.
The order “will follow new requirements in place throughout much of the Bay Area, and is intended to further slow the spread of novel coronavirus,” according to the press release. “The order impacts public, commercial and governmental spaces where face-to-face interactions may pose a risk of transmission, including grocery stores, health care offices, restaurant pickup counters, public transit, essential government offices and more.”
An exception to the order will be in cases when people can engage in outdoor recreation while practicing social distancing. The order will also not apply to children under the age of 12. Children under two years old are not supposed to wear face coverings due to the risk of suffocation.
The CDC has a guide on how to make, wear and clean homemade face coverings. Medical-grade masks such as surgical masks and N95 masks are still in short supply, and the county is asking that such gear be reserved for health care workers and first responders. Anyone wishing to donate medical-grade masks can find out how to do so at santacruzcounty.us/ppedonate.
There are 108 known COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Monday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from COVID-19, and 56 have recovered. Statewide as of Sunday, there have been more than 30,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,200 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 16, 5:30pm: County questions summer Boardwalk opening, then backtracks
After saying at a press conference this morning that the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk likely won’t open this summer, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel issued a statement saying no decision has been made yet.
“I would like to clarify that no decision has been made to close the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or any other business” beyond the county’s current shelter-in-place order, which expires May 3, she said in a written statement. “While Gov. Newsom has signaled that large gatherings of people maybe difficult for the foreseeable future, I and other health officers throughout the Bay Area are working together to consider a replacement order allowing some activities to resume. I want to stress, however, that speculation about future operations at this time is premature.”
At this morning’s press conference, Newel had said: “I don’t anticipate that the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will open this summer at all. There are no anticipated mass gatherings—or really gatherings of any size—for a long time to come.”
There are 96 known COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided Wednesday by county health officials. Two people in the county have died from COVID-19, and 41 have recovered. Statewide as of Wednesday, there have been more than 26,000 COVID-19 cases and 890 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 14, 6pm: City cancels several summer events
The City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department announced today it is cancelling several summer events. The cancellations include the Japanese Cultural Fair, Juneteenth, Woodies on the Wharf, and the Church Street Fair.
A city press release noted these events “draw people from all over the world,” and “these cancellations are being made out of deep concern for the health and safety of the community.”
Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings has ordered city flags to fly at half-staff from April 16-18 to honor the sacrifices of public safety workers, health care workers, and other essential employees nationwide “who have lost their lives while trying to help and protect communities from COVID-19.”
AFSCME issued a press release about the county’s second COVID-19 death, which we reported on in our live blog update earlier today. AFSCME Local 3299 said the man was a campus shuttle driver at UCSC and a member of the employee union.
“This morning, we learned that we had lost one of our valued union brothers, a devoted father and grandfather who was equally beloved by his colleagues and students at UC Santa Cruz,” the group said in a press release. “Our hearts are heavy, and go out to his family and all who are suffering due to COVID-19.”
The group also called on UC administrators to “take immediate steps to better protect workers—by ensuring they all have access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and by allowing older or medically vulnerable workers to stay home without threat to their jobs.”
April 14, 11:20am: County’s second death from the coronavirus
A second Santa Cruz County resident has died from the coronavirus, health officials said today.
The man was in his late 60s and had an underlying health condition. He was admitted to a local hospital on April 9, county officials said in a press release, tested positive for COVID-19, and died early today. He worked at a local university and caught the coronavirus from community spread.
“This man was a father and grandfather and I want to express my deepest sympathies to his family,” Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said in a statement. “This second death shows how serious the virus is and how necessary it is for our community to continue to shelter in place.”
The first death in the county from the coronavirus was on March 28. The man was in his early 70s and had an underlying health condition.
April 13, 5pm: City measure aims to help restaurants
With many restaurants relying on delivery as a business lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic, Santa Cruz City Manager Martín Bernal is limiting the commissions that third-party food delivery companies can charge.
Bernal signed an executive order today limiting the commissions to 15% in an effort to help ease the financial burden on restaurants. The county and statewide shelter-in-place orders aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus mean restaurants can’t serve patrons inside.
“Our restaurants who have been able to adapt to a takeout and delivery model have done so at a high cost,” Santa Cruz’s Director of Economic Development Bonnie Lipscomb said in a statement. “This order should help relieve some of the financial burden they have been carrying in order to keep their business open during the pandemic.”
Santa Cruz County approved a 15% commission limit today, too.
There are 91 known cases of the coronavirus in Santa Cruz County, according to information provided this morning by county officials. One person in the county has died from COVID-19, and 37 have recovered. Statewide as of today, there have been 21,794 COVID-19 cases and 651 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.
April 3, 3:45pm: Vacation rentals temporarily banned
Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin has released a statement saying that vacation rentals must comply with the new shelter-in-place order, and they are not allowed to operate under the health directive, which will be in place locally through at least May 3.
Only essential businesses are allowed to operate under the order. Travel is prohibited, except when necessary for essential services. Vacation rental owners may still provide short-term housing for essential workers, like emergency and public safety personnel.
Property owners should not use vacation rental properties to shelter in place if they have to leave another county to come here. All vacation bookings not currently in effect should be cancelled through May 3, according to a county press release. The county encourages current vacation rental occupants to return home unless they have no other place to go or are unable to safely travel. Sheriff Jim Hart and other county officials have said that failing to comply with the order is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.
For weeks, health officials said there was no reason for Americans to wear masks in public. Now, new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California’s public health officials, including from Santa Cruz County, states that covering one’s face with masks, bandannas and neck gaiters is an advisable way to slow the spread of disease. Health experts do not recommend that the public use medical masks, like N-95 respirators, which are in limited supply and in demand by first responders and other health care workers.
Public life and public spaces have obviously changed since the shelter-in-place order took effect last month, Jump bikes left Santa Cruz recently, and the bike-share program will remain temporarily suspended while the shelter-in-place order is in effect. Many parks and beaches around the state have closed. County Public Health Officer Gail Newel says she has not done that for county parks and beaches, and she believes county residents have by and large been following physical distancing guidelines and keeping at least six feet from one another. She threatened to close parks if she feels that it becomes necessary and that locals aren’t abiding by the rules.
The county has announced 59 cases of COVID-19 locally and one death.
April 1, 12:05pm: Shelter-in-place extended through May 3
The shelter-in-place order for Santa Cruz County has been extended through May 3.
The revised order, issued March 31 by County Health Officer Gail Newel, carries forward the requirement that residents stay home unless absolutely necessary for “essential” activities. That includes trips to the grocery store, bank, gas station, hardware store, and pharmacy. People can leave their homes for exercise or to take care of a family member or pet, as long as they don’t congregate in groups and keep six feet from people who don’t live in the same home.
The order could be extended past its new May 3 end date if needed to protect public health amid the coronavirus outbreak. There’s also still a statewide shelter-in-place order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The county said residents must comply with whichever is stricter of the two. If the state order lifts before the county one does, the county restrictions will still be in place. Statewide, California Superintendent Tony Thurmond has confirmed that schools likely won’t reopen by summer.
Locally, Santa Cruz County’s health leaders have launched a task force, with support from the cities of Santa Cruz and Watsonville, to oversee homeless services amid the COVID-19 outbreak. For more in-depth news, check out GT’s coronavirus-related stories in this week’s issue—covering topics like Santa Cruz’s preparedness for a looming COVID-19 surge, the virus’ strain on grocery workers, what the pandemic means for UCSC students and other stories.
March 31, 3:10pm: Smoke Shop closes again
831 Smoke Shop has closed both of its locations after getting a visit from a Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputy, informing a store employee that the shop was a non-essential business operating in violation of the county’s shelter-in-place order.
Last week, GT reported that the shop had reopened, and it was selling products like rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bleach, disinfectant wipes, toilet paper, and bottled water. The store’s owner Jacob Alquadri told GT News Editor Jacob Pierce that shoppers would also be able to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products. Now, the shop owner’s wife tells us that customers were only ever allowed to buy essential goods, like cleaning supplies, in the briefly reopened smoke shop—not any smoking products. The woman, who asked not to be named, says there must have been a miscommunication between the writer and the owner, who’s from Yemen, due to a language barrier.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County has climbed to 49 as of this morning. There have been no new reported deaths since the county’s first, which happened on Saturday, March 28.
In California as of Monday, March 30, there have been 6,932 positive cases of the coronavirus and 150 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there have been 163,539 cases and 2,860 deaths nationwide. Internationally, the globe has surpassed 750,000 cases and 36,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
March 30, 12:30pm: County’s first death from the coronavirus
Santa Cruz County health officials confirmed the county’s first death from the coronavirus this weekend.
The man who died Saturday was in his early 70s and had an underlying health condition, the county’s Health Services Agency announced Sunday. He had been admitted to a local hospital on March 19 with symptoms including fever and shortness of breath, County Health Officer Gail Newel said in a press release. Our sister paper, the Pajaronian, has more.
There are 45 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the county as of the most recent count provided today by health officials.
Social distancing efforts appear to be helping slow the spread of the coronavirus. We have more on that in a story here.
Here’s what else is happening lately in response to the coronavirus:
- The county’s METRO service is doing its part by issuing a reminder to riders that they should only be traveling for essential activities. Passengers may only board with belongings that are for essential activities. For more info, visit scmtd.com.
- Community Bridges has four Family Resource Centers that are providing support to people affected by the coronavirus. The centers are open on a drop-in basis to assist with accessing benefits such as unemployment, state disability, family and medical leave, CalFresh, and emergency enrollment in Covered California. More information about each center can be found at communitybridges.org/programs.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched an effort today aimed at rapidly expanding the state’s health care workforce. He called for all “health care professionals with an active license, public health professionals, medical retirees, medical and nursing students, or members of medical disaster response teams” to join the California Health Corps. More information on how to register is available at healthcorps.ca.gov. Newsom also signed an executive order to assist with the push for expanding the health care workforce “to staff at least an additional 50,000 hospital beds the state needs to treat COVID-19 patients.”
March 28, 8:15pm: Expected surge in cases could strain local hospitals
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel told KSBW on Friday that the local Health Services Agency is expecting a surge in cases of the new coronavirus that will exceed the current capacity of beds. There are 39 confirmed cases in the county, as of the tally provided Friday by officials.
In addition to existing brick-and-mortar hospitals, the county has a temporary hospital facility in Watsonville that could be deployed, and it’s in the process of setting up alternate care sites.
We’ve asked county leaders about the local capacity for beds and about the availability of COVID-19 tests. Officials have not yet responded. We’ll provide an update here when they do.
Over the past week, Yelp partnered with GoFundMe to create fundraisers for small businesses, given the strain that the pandemic is having on the economy. The arrangement drew a swift backlash after many business owners began to publicly ask why they weren’t contacted before the pages launched. Here in Santa Cruz County, fundraiser pages for both Zachary’s and Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing have come down. Many others are still up.
We reported Friday that the state was closing several local state parks and beaches to vehicular traffic. The city of Santa Cruz added to those closures by blocking off parking lots on West Cliff Drive, including ones at Cowell Beach, Steamer Lane and Lighthouse Field. Residents may get out of the house for exercise, but the government requires everyone must keep at least six feet from one another when they do so.
The Santa Cruz parks department is promoting ways to recreate remotely. For more information, visit cityofsantacruz.com/virtualrecreation.
Lastly, the city’s Public Works Department has made announcements of its own. Through April 10, residents may leave out an extra bag of trash for garbage collection at no extra cost. The bag may go on top of or next to city trash bins.
Officials also want to remind city residents not to flush wipes, feminine products, diaper liners or plastic dog waste bags down their toilets. During the early phases of panic buying a few weeks ago, many wipes began flying off store shelves. Some wipes are touted as “flushable” or “biodegradable.” They are not. Such products can create sewer back-ups. They belong in the trash.
March 27, 5:25pm: UCSC student tests positive
UCSC leaders have announced the first positive case of COVID-19 in the university community. The student was last on campus March 16 and is doing well, according to the announcement.
School administrators are coordinating with public health officials to determine whether other members of the campus community may have been exposed. Earlier today, the county’s Health Services Agency announced that the number of local cases had climbed to 34.
The Washington Post and New York Times are both reporting that the U.S., which recorded its first confirmed case two months ago, now has more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, as reported by state health departments. The nation first passed 10,000 cases on March 19. On Thursday, the U.S. became the country with the most confirmed cases.
President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act today to make General Motors manufacture ventilators to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak.
March 27, 11am: Some state parks closed
Anyone looking to drive into the woods in order to blow off some steam might want to make sure the roads are open first.
California Parks and Recreation began closing some public lands to vehicular traffic earlier this week. As revealed on the Santa Cruz County Twitter feed yesterday, that includes some local parks and beaches. As of this morning the affected spaces include Castle Rock State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Manresa State Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, New Brighton State Beach, Seacliff State Beach, and the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.
Under the shelter-in-place orders that are in effect because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Cruz County residents are allowed to leave the house for exercise, as long as they stay at least six feet from others.
As of yesterday, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency updated the count of confirmed local COVID-19 cases to 32, and the California Department of Health announced that the number statewide is up to 3,006. There have been 65 deaths statewide. The county has not reported any local deaths from the virus.
In case you missed it, non-essential businesses are still closed, but a local smoke shop reopened after it began selling medical supplies, cleaning supplies and bottled water. Also, our writer Wallce Baine talked with Bookshop Santa Cruz operator-owner Casey Coonerty Protti about how her business is coping with these times.
March 26, 10:45am: Protecting the front line
Here’s a way to help the health care workers on the front line of the coronavirus response: Santa Cruz County set up an online system for anyone wishing to donate personal protective equipment.
The equipment has been in short supply nationwide as health care workers treat the influx of patients with COVID-19. There are more than 68,000 cases in the country, according to the latest tally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Santa Cruz County has 25 confirmed cases.
Groups or individuals with extra personal protective equipment can fill out a form to start the process at santacruzhealth.org/ppedonate.
Equipment they are seeking includes:
- Eye protection such as goggles and face shields;
- Antibacterial and disinfecting wipes, typically alcohol or bleach based (unopened). No baby wipes;
- N-95 and surgical masks (in unopened containers/boxes);
- Medical gowns, including disposable gowns, as well as cloth surgical and hospital gowns in good condition.
Also, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told CNBC this morning that most Americans will be receiving stimulus checks within the next three weeks. After a unanimous 96-0 Senate vote to approve the measure, the House now has to approve the package before it goes to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The cash transfers would come in the form of direct deposits from the federal government. Under the plan, a $1,200 deposit would go to most adults who make $75,000 or less annually, according to past tax returns. A $500 payment would also be sent to cover every child in qualifying households. The plan additionally includes more than $600 billion in business loans, beefed-up unemployment insurance, expanded health care funds and increased aid to state and local governments.
In case you’ve missed the recent coverage in our sister paper, the Pajaronian, Santa Cruz Superior Court started holding some judicial proceedings outdoors on the courthouse steps. Meanwhile, the California National Guard has been helping with Second Harvest Food Bank distributions. Suzanne Willis, Second Harvest’s development and marketing officer, noted that the officials are not there for immigration enforcement.
March 24, 5pm: Food Not Bombs, city of Santa Cruz spar over homeless responses
A war of words has erupted in Santa Cruz between the city and Food Not Bombs over the way each has responded locally to the COVID-19 pandemic that now stretches across the globe.
Last night, Keith McHenry spent $5,000 toward renting hotel rooms and handing out 81 vouchers for those rooms to local homeless people. In a blog post, Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills criticized McHenry, the cofounder for Food Not Bombs, for not complying with social distancing requirements mandating that everyone stay at least six feet from one another. He accused McHenry of staging a rally last night. “Gathering in large groups is reckless, irresponsible, and is a crime we enforce,” Mills wrote.
McHenry says it wasn’t a rally, at all. “It was survival,” he tells GT. McHenry says that homeless people came out to the clock tower on the corner of Water Street and Pacific Avenue to get his hotel vouchers. More than an additional 100 showed up who he was not able to give vouchers to. McHenry says he has been trying to get homeless people to keep six feet from another, but he adds that it can be difficult because many of them can be very distrusting. Consequently, they view the pandemic as a hoax. “It’s a big pain in the ass, getting people to social distance,” he says.
McHenry says the city should be more concerned with complying with social distancing at the Salvation Army’s Laurel Street shelter than bugging him about his group’s gatherings.
McHenry also runs through a list of people who he believes he will be feeding after the crisis continues and triggers a global crash, a chain of events that he considers an inevitability. “I’ll be feeding Mills and his family if they stick around Santa Cruz,” McHenry says. “I will be feeding Martín Bernal and his family—and Justin Cummings. I’ll be feeding him.”
March 24, 12:30pm: Eviction moratoriums approved
The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency announced more cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number of local cases up to 24. The county has not reported any deaths from the virus.
This morning, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors passed a moratorium on evictions for commercial and residential tenants. The Watsonville City Council passed similar protections last night, and the Santa Cruz City Council will consider such a measure later today.
In terms of comparatively good news, Keith McHenry announced that the Santa Cruz Chapter of the California Homeless Union Officers and Food Not Bombs housed 81 people last night in local hotels. Food Not Bombs spent $5,000 yesterday on hotel rooms for the homeless, McHenry reports. He says the group needs another $5,000 today. For information, including how to donate, visit foodnotbombs.net.
March 23, 3:30pm: Being beach savvy; divvying out protective equipment
There are now 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county, according to the tally provided today by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.
As the virus continues spreading, Santa Cruz County officials urged travelers to avoid crowding the beaches. Outdoor exercise is allowed and encouraged as long as it follows social distancing guidelines, officials noted, but “large gatherings are a violation of local and state orders meant to protect the health and safety of all Californians.” Violations are subject to citation and arrest.
“Santa Cruz County is a popular destination for college students during this time of year,” Sheriff Jim Hart said in a press release. “However, the County is asking everyone to adjust their routines in order to protect everyone’s health including their own, as well as the operations of our critical health care infrastructure.”
The shelter-in-place orders issued in Santa Cruz County and statewide are aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 30,000 people nationwide and hundreds of thousands globally.
The county is releasing nearly all of its stockpile of 27,000 N95 masks to local healthcare facilities including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and emergency medical services providers. Distribution “will be done according to highest medical priority” amid a global scarcity of masks. Personal protective equipment that healthcare providers need, including gowns, coveralls, goggles, face shields, and respiratory masks, is in short supply.
March 20, 4:25pm: Triage facilities for the homeless, reevaluating evictions, and more
It can be difficult for Santa Cruz’s homeless residents to comply with social distancing guidelines calling for everyone to stay at least six feet from one another.
With that in mind, the city of Santa Cruz has announced new triage centers to help homeless individuals who wish to get out of encampments—as reported by the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
The first such facility opened today at Lot 17, across the street from the Kaiser Permanente Arena. A similar facility will likely open on Coral Street, near the Housing Matters campus. Others could soon be on the way. The Lot 17 site has tents with adequate spacing between them. Individuals do not need to be showing symptoms in order to be admitted. The idea is to get the homeless out of encampments.
“There’s a recognition that obviously we have to protect members of the homeless community that are out and about and who could potentially be hugely impacted by the virus—as well as impact the wider community,” City Manager Martín Bernal tells GT. Bernal credits Susie O’Hara, assistant to the city manager, with leading the charge on this issue.
Although the homeless are exempted from shelter-in-place orders, Gov. Gavin Newsom and local health officials have been talking all week about finding ways to protect them.
Some individuals may be moved to other facilities, like hospitals or hotel rooms within 72 hours, if they need additional attention. The city has also installed hand-washing facilities around town.
“What we’re really trying to do is protect the health and safety of our community and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” says Mayor Justin Cummings.
Other news:
• The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency posted on its website that there has been another confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county, bringing the total number of known cases locally up to 15. The county has seen no reported deaths from the virus. Statewide, there have been 1,006 positive cases and 19 deaths, according to the state health department.
• The strict shelter-in-place order—mandating that residents stay home, unless absolutely necessary for “essential” activities—just got a lot bigger. Last night, Gov. Newsom issued a statewide shelter-in-place order, similar to one that was already in effect in Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas.
• Community Bridges announced Thursday that it is expanding its Lift Line services to all Santa Cruz County seniors over the age of 60 and people with disabilities, regardless of income. The program provides free transportation for grocery store trips and essential medical appointments. To schedule, call Lift Line at 688-9663, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm or Saturday-Sunday 8am-3:30pm. If possible, call one or two days in advance.
• Congressmember Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel) will host a telephone town hall on the local and federal response to COVID-19 tonight at 6pm. Healthcare professionals and members of the Small Business Administration will join him. Click here to sign up or visit panetta.house.gov for more information.
• Santa Cruz METRO is making changes to its schedule effective Monday, with all service running on the Saturday-Sunday schedule until further notice. For full schedule and timetable information, visit scmtd.com.
• Both the Santa Cruz City Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to consider moratoriums on evictions for commercial and residential properties at their March 24 meetings. The city is encouraging people to participate online or via Community Television since there will be limited seating due to the public health requirement that people maintain a six-foot distance from others. Public comments can be sent to the city clerk for inclusion during the meeting. For more info, visit: cityofsantacruz.com/government/city- council/council-meetings.
• The Sentinel reported that 99 Bottles will be closing indefinitely. Owner Mia Bossie cited COVID-19 as the reason. “There’s just no way we’re going to survive this,” she told the Sentinel.
March 19, 3:45pm: The community mobilizes
Santa Cruz County officials set up a call center to help answer residents’ questions about the coronavirus outbreak. You can call 454-4242 from 8am-6pm, Monday-Friday. Residents will be directed to the appropriate resources when calling that number.
Citing “overwhelming call volume,” the county is asking people to refrain from calling the County’s Public Health Division or Communicable Disease Unit. People can visit santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus for up-to-date information that may answer many questions.
A free webinar will be held Friday, March 20, at 3pm to provide guidance and resources for businesses. The webinar will be shown on CommunityTV and streamed on the County’s Facebook page, or it can be viewed here: zoom.us/j/589373809.
Volunteers created a hub of information to help with technical support for students who are learning at home and residents who are working from home. They are offering support with networking or technical issues, and they are looking for people willing to help provide this kind of assistance. To learn more, visit cruz.one.
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County created a Local Response Fund with a focus on assisting residents facing financial hardships caused by the public health emergency. The fund will provide financial support for groups in Santa Cruz County that serve vulnerable populations amid the COVID-19 response.
Tax-deductible donations can be made at cfscc.org/donate/COVID. Donations will be accepted as long as the need continues. Contact the Community Foundation at 662-2061 or in**@cf***.org for help making a donation.
March 19, 2:30pm: Life during shelter-in-place
The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency announced that, as of Wednesday, there are now 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county.
In case you missed it, our sister paper the Pajaronian ran a guide of what is and isn’t allowed while the shelter-in-place order is in effect. We’ve added this to our continually growing list of resources about the coronavirus and understanding the impacts locally.
Also, while the sheriff has the authority to make arrests and issue fines of up to $1,000 to people violating the shelter-in-place order, he says doing so will not be the priority of his deputies. Santa Cruz Superior Court announced changes, including the delay of all criminal, civil and probate cases until April 17. Santa Cruz METRO buses are still running. As we reported Wednesday, some grocery stores have introduced senior-only hours at the beginning of each shopping day.
March 17, 4pm: First responders prepare
Fire departments in Santa Cruz County are testing quick response vehicles to “better respond to calls and protect residents and first responders,” according to a county press release. This will help all local fire agencies be ready if there is increased call demand.
Before residents call 911, county health officials are asking people to:
- Consider home isolation and self-treatment if experiencing mild symptoms like cough
- Call a local clinic or your primary care physician for instructions on treatment
March 17: More confirmed cases
The total number of confirmed cases in Santa Cruz County reached 13, according to health officials. The latest tally is continually displayed on the county Health Services Agency page.
March 17, 7am: Police operations
Santa Cruz City Police said they are adopting “preventative operational protocols” to help ensure the health of personnel and the community. Their guidance includes:
- Officers may ask to speak with complainants outdoors when possible and will try to keep a distance of 5-6 feet between people.
- Officers will have the discretion to handle some complaints by phone.
- Some thefts, frauds, or minor incidents (that are not in progress) may be triaged over the phone and determined if an additional in-person response is needed.
- Written statements can be emailed to officers.
March 16, 7:45pm: Business resources
In response to the shelter-in-place order across the county that required any non-essential businesses to close, the City of Santa Cruz’s Economic Development Department is compiling information to help businesses. Business leaders can find resources about emerging state and federal programs providing assistance in the wake of the public health emergency. The U.S. Small Business Administration will be providing disaster loans for businesses in the county.
March 16: Shelter-in-place issued
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel issued a shelter-in-place order directing residents to only leave their house for essential activities such as trips to the grocery store, bank, gas station, hardware store, and pharmacy. The order is in effect through April 7, though it could be extended. Read the full order.
Quick correction: Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing never posted a fundraising page. We are selling beer/wine/cider to be delivered and for pickup. We also are selling gift cards for #BETTERTIMES.
You our out by 4000 deaths for California, I think you missed a number.
I’m sorry, but when you said …
“The county will also welcome back many more businesses and operations—movie theaters, arcades, museums, galleries, aquariums, gyms, swimming pools, campgrounds, tasting rooms, brewpubs and bars.”
I cannot find where it says this will happen within the new guidance. I see a blurb about opening Lodging, but I saw nothing that said Movie Theaters and Pools can open. Could you please clarify where official word came from that says these items specifically?
Good question. The county offered detail on that in their June 9 press release, here: http://santacruzhealth.org/Portals/7/Pdfs/Coronavirus/RevisedOrder.06092020.pdf
We added a link to that document on the wording you noted. Here’s the relevant section from the county’s press release: “The County was previously approved for a State variance and issued orders aligning the County with State guidance, which will allow movies theaters and family entertainment centers; museums, galleries and aquariums; gyms and fitness centers; swimming pools; campgrounds and RV parks; and tasting rooms, brewpubs and bars to reopen on Friday as well.”
Thank you for flagging that. You’re right, we accidentally missed one number when noting there were 4,697 deaths statewide as of Monday. The post has been updated accordingly.
In the May 26th update you have a typo which startled me briefly:
“So far, there have been 29,732 vaccine doses administered to Santa Cruz County residents”
I think it’s meant to be 295,732.
Thanks for having all this information in one place!