COVID-19

Santa Cruz County had 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday morning, nearly twice the amount it had (25) just six days ago. County officials tomorrow will release an updated infographic that will provide further details on the cases such as gender and age range....

WATSONVILLE—Brian Orozco prides himself in putting his clients at Functional Fitness Training Center through a vigorous workout that challenges them both physically and mentally. Weaving his way through the Employment Development Board’s system to file an unemployment claim put his strenuous workouts to shame. He tried...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Sgt. Donny Thul was on patrol recently when he got a harsh reminder of life under coronavirus restrictions. A call came over his radio that a group of young people was gathered at a park playing soccer. Just a few weeks ago, such a...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The shelter-in-place order imposed on March 31 by Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel allows activities such as walking, hiking, bicycling and running. Anyone participating in those activities must comply with social distancing requirements, and large gatherings are prohibited. Health officials say...

Santa Cruz County health officials on Tuesday morning announced the second death of a county resident who tested positive for COVID-19. The man in his late 60s died early Tuesday. He was hospitalized on April 9 with symptoms including fever, cough and fatigue. He had an...

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said he will revisit the statewide stay-at-home order in two weeks if the curve of COVID-19 cases in California is not only “flattening” but “declining.” That does not mean the order will be completely lifted, Newsom said, but certain aspects...

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—Watsonville Mayor Rebecca Garcia had a request during a conference call with Santa Cruz County leaders: don’t forget our Spanish speaking population. The longtime outspoken community activist now in charge of the county’s most densely populated city and largest Latino community pushed leaders to add...

Additional reporting by Todd Guild SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With the onset of warmer, sunny days, droves of people have been showing up at area beaches and parks, especially on weekends, even as the shelter-in-place order has hit day 41.  And beginning April 25, Santa Cruz County also...

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 22 announced plans to allow hospitals to resume surgeries and other procedures that were delayed while the state grapples with the novel coronavirus pandemic. These procedures include heart valve replacements, angioplasty and tumor removals, and key preventive care services, such...