Monterey County Local COVID-19 News Articles and Digest

COVID-19 Families & Children Health Government

Will Kids Still Take Their Medicine? New State Law Forces Pharmacies to Take Out the Flavor

11/28/2023
Parents say flavored medication can help ensure their kids finish a prescription. Far fewer California pharmacies are offering that service as they await new rules from a state regulator.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Elections & Politics History Government

California vs. Florida: Need-to-Know Facts About the Rival States Ahead of Newsom-DeSantis Showdown

11/28/2023
Political wonks in California, Florida and maybe a few states in between, will be glued to their screens Thursday night to watch Gov. Gavin Newsom and Gov. Ron Desantis square off in a highly-anticipated Blue vs. Red State debate that’s been brewing since the summer.

From Los Angeles Times...

COVID-19 Health Government

Data Explores Whether California or Florida Handled COVID Better

11/27/2023
California and Florida took starkly different approaches to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Data shows that more Floridians died per capita of COVID than did Californians.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Education Government

Community College Enrollment Rebounding Post-Pandemic, and Students Over 50 Are a Big Reason Why

11/12/2023
California’s community colleges are seeing enrollment gains for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older students—those over 50—are some of the first to return.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Business, Economy & Jobs Health Government

Effects of COVID Isolation Surfacing for California’s Young Professionals

10/25/2023
After years of isolation and virtual classes, young professionals in California’s workforce are reportedly struggling with greater mental health challenges and burnout. If colleges and companies don’t pay more attention, there could be economic consequences.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Education Families & Children Community Service & Support Government

California Student Test Scores Remain Low

10/18/2023
Despite an influx of money to counter learning loss during the pandemic, English language arts and math test scores remain low.

From Daily Democrat...

COVID-19 Health

Mayo Clinic Expert Answers Questions on COVID Tests, New Variants

09/21/2023
Companies set the original test dates arbitrarily due to these diagnostic at-home tests being developed rapidly. So, check your boxes before you toss them.

From CapPublicRadio...

COVID-19 Health

New COVID Boosters Are Coming: What You Need to Know

09/13/2023
Cases are on the rise, and so are hospitalizations and deaths. So the federal government's release of new, updated COVID boosters feels like good timing.

From Monterey Herald...

COVID-19 Business, Economy & Jobs

Monterey Conference Center Sees Uptick in Group Business

09/08/2023
The Monterey Conference Center in downtown Monterey is seeing a resurgence of business stronger than pre-pandemic levels at the 40,000-square-foot facility.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Education Health Government

Why Aren’t Kids Going to School? After Pandemic, Chronic Absenteeism Hitting Crisis Levels

09/06/2023
Nearly a third of K-12 students statewide were chronically absent in 2020-21, more than three times the pre-pandemic rate. Some school officials fear that pattern is becoming the new normal.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Public Safety Crime & Justice Government

He Lied to Win a California Rehab Contract. Now He’s Convicted of Exploiting Parolees in His Care

09/05/2023
Attila Colar went to prison for lying to the government. After California gave him another contract as a provider in a rehabilitation program, a federal jury convicted him of fraud for using the personal information of Bay Area parolees and others to collect government COVID funds.

From Monterey County Weekly...

COVID-19 United Way Monterey County

United Way Starts a Rent Stabilization Program With Remaining Covid-19 Rental Assistance Funds.

08/30/2023
Image for display with article titled United Way starts a rent stabilization program with remaining Covid-19 rental assistance funds.

Various pandemic relief funds that served as a cushion to help pay rent or cover burial and funeral costs are phasing out. Some relief programs, including California’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), still have money to keep providing services while…

From Monterey County Weekly...

COVID-19

The County Makes a Final Push to Spread Word of $100K in Untouched Covid Funeral Aid.

08/23/2023
Image for display with article titled Monterey County Makes Final Push to Spread Word on $100K in Untouched COVID Funeral Aid

With the deadline for applications approaching on Oct. 1, Monterey County is making a final push to get people signed up before the money is no longer available.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Economy & Jobs Health Crisis & Personal Support Government

Millions of Californians Struggle to Get Enough Food Despite State’s Abundance

08/07/2023
How bad is California hunger? A lot depends on your access to food aid, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic but is being reduced.

From Monterey County Weekly...

COVID-19 Economy & Jobs City of Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel City Council Lets Outdoor Dining Seats Without Permits Remain Through Dec. 31.

08/05/2023
Image for display with article titled Carmel Council Lets No-Permit Outdoor Dining Remain Through Dec. 31

Over a year after the Carmel City Council voted to end dining parklets, councilmembers took a less strident approach toward unpermitted outdoor dining seating.

From CalMatters...

COVID-19 Economy & Jobs Health Government

California Blocks In-N-Out Burger Plan to Ban Masks in Workplace

07/26/2023
The iconic California burger joint known for its crossed palm trees and cups printed with Bible verses banned its employees in five states from wearing masks at work.

From CapPublicRadio...

COVID-19 Health

Pandemic-Driven Drinking Increased Alcoholic Liver Disease Death Rates

07/16/2023
Excessive drinking during the pandemic increased alcoholic liver disease deaths so much that the condition killed more Californians than car accidents or breast cancer, a California Healthline analysis has found.

From CalMatters...

Economy & Jobs COVID-19

Why California’s COVID Unemployment Mess Isn’t Over Yet

05/15/2023
Workers denied pandemic-era jobless benefits are still struggling as they fight a state employment agency on edge about fraud and an appeals system facing a “historic” backlog. What happens next will help decide who pays for a multi-billion-dollar debacle three years in the making.

From Monterey Herald...

COVID-19

Monterey County’s COVID-19 Rates Remain Low

04/06/2023
Monterey County continues to have a COVID-19 community level ranked low for nearly three months, according to the CDC. Community levels are determined by the higher of the new admissions and inpatient beds metrics, based on the current level of new cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.

From Monterey County Weekly...

COVID-19 Art & Culture

Salinas Valley Comic Con Appears to Be Another Victim of Covid.

03/03/2023
Image for display with article titled Salinas Valley Comic Con—Another Victim of Covid

A Salinas-born illustrator tweeted that he is “sad to hear that it sounds like Salinas Valley Comic Con ... is not to be again.”

Monterey County Local News: COVID-19