COVID-19

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—New Leaf Community Market has closed its Aptos location after seven employees tested positive for COVID-19. The company made the announcement on its website  on Tuesday, saying the store will stay closed “until further notice.”  The announcement came four days after the store closed...

WATSONVILLE—During the COVID-19 outbreak, Watsonville’s Blume Distillation has decided to expand its production line to help its community. The facility, which provides biorefinery equipment and alcohol-based fuel, developed a line of hand sanitizers, hoping to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “This crisis affects everyone,” said...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Starting this week, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel will begin requiring customers and staff at essential businesses such as grocery stores to wear face coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.  The order will follow requirements in place throughout...

SOQUEL—Allen Stobaugh and his wife Mary were at the tail end of a 15-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands—and were on their way for a final stop in Ensenada, Mexico—when their trip was waylaid by the novel coronavirus. Twenty-one passengers tested positive for the coronavirus,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In the first few weeks of the countywide shelter-in-place order, the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) saw an unprecedented amount of adoptions.  About 126 dogs, cats and rabbits were adopted, including many animals who had been at the shelter for months. “People said...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—New Leaf Community Market closed its new Aptos location on Saturday for a one-day deep cleaning after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19. Store officials said that the closure was voluntary. “While healthy authorities have not required us to close the store, we...

CENTRAL COAST—Precautions around the coronavirus outbreak have forced officials to restack this year’s salmon season and close launch ramps in area harbors. California’s recreational ocean salmon fishing season will be delayed statewide through the end of the month, despite plans made earlier this year for...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—While scores of agencies and organizations, from food banks to senior centers, grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, area faith groups are also finding new ways to redirect their message.  Online services, thanks to live streaming, Zoom and live chats, are now taking...

WATSONVILLE—A warehouse in the heart of Watsonville’s industrial district sat mostly empty until about a month ago, when a local realtor converted it into a distribution center for coronavirus care packages. Dee Dee Vargas, along with Pajaro Valley Unified School District bus driver Barbie Gomez,...

WATSONVILLE—Facing declining revenues, Watsonville Community Hospital has laid off about 10 employees, a little more than 1 percent of its workforce, Halsen Healthcare CEO Dan Brothman confirmed Wednesday. Brothman said the move was in response to a decline in elective surgeries, and to emergency room...