Monterey County COVID-19 Digest

“It's a cloak-and-dagger, spy-versus-spy game. … These variants that are bubbling up now are trying to get past some of our immunity."

As Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to end the COVID-19 state of emergency amid the prospect of a severe flu season and possible coronavirus winter surge, Monterey County's COVID-19 community level remains low.

After more than two-and-a-half years, California is retiring its COVID-19 emergency proclamation. Governor Gavin Newsom will lift the state of emergency declaration on Feb. 28.

Although COVID-19 cases in California have started to plateau, some may face another infection as new variants spread. UC Davis infectious disease specialist Dr. Natascha Tuznik talks about reinfection, and if repeated bouts can worsen health risks.

During the pandemic, many teens dropped out of extracurricular activities. Now, officials with Salinas-area youth programs are trying to rebuild the pre-COVID momentum.

Carmel’s Concours on the Avenue, part of Classic Car Week, will not be returning this year. The cancellation is related to both continued COVID-19 disruptions and the passing of event founder Doug Freedman last October.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid has been hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against the disease. But in recent weeks, there have been concerns that some people who finish the five-day course are becoming ill and testing positive again soon after.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to the first COVID-19 test that detects chemicals associated with the coronavirus in breath. The InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer gives results in less than three minutes.

California is delaying a coronavirus vaccine mandate for schoolchildren until at least the summer of 2023. The state was the first to announce a mandate, but it will not take effect until federal regulators give final approval to the vaccine for children.

With current funding set to run out, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted to approve $1.4 million to keep the VIDA community health outreach program going through the end of the year.

On Feb. 16, California officials said that the state’s long-range plan for COVID-19 will focus on flexible responses to future variants and shift from an emergency mindset into one that assumes coexistence with the virus.

As the omicron COVID-19 variant continues to spread through California, many are using over-the-counter testing kits. If you test positive, what do you do with your result?

U.S. health officials have lowered isolation restrictions from 10 to five days for patients with coronavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said the guidance reflects evidence that people are most infectious two days before and three days after symptoms develop.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has voted to suspend the requirement of indoor face coverings. “While wearing face coverings in indoor public settings remains strongly recommended, it is no longer required,” said communications coordinator Maia Carroll.

Feeling stressed? Interim’s Crisis Counseling Program offers short-term programs for individuals and families who have been affected by COVID-19. Services are funded by FEMA and SAMHSA, and affiliated with CalHope, an online peer-run support network.

As an educator studying education and pedagogy, Lora Bartlett is well versed in the “grammar of schooling,” which describes the structure students expect from their schools. But over the past 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everything.

Montage Health is now facing a possible lawsuit by a group of employees who were denied religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccinations and are on unpaid leave.

For more than 200 COVID-19 survivors nationwide who experienced some of the most devastating health effects, their only shot at survival was a new pair of lungs. In California, these operations accounts for 10% of all lung transplants this year.

The Seaside City Council unanimously approved a COVID-19 vaccine mandate and also voted 4-1 to create the Seaside Housing Collaborative, a nonprofit under the umbrella of the city that will focus on providing affordable housing to the community.

Randomly chosen households in Monterey County will be asked to join a study to learn how many Californians have COVID-19 antibodies. The study is being conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine and the California Department of Public Health.

The county's biggest tourist attraction, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from all visitors age 12 and up starting Nov. 1. In addition, all staff and volunteers must be vaccinated against the virus.

Last week the Monterey Board of Supervisors delayed a mask mandate to allow for amendments to the verbiage. This week they put the mandate in place, voting 3-2 with several stipulations.

Hartnell College in Salinas is requiring all students and employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. When and how the mandate goes into effect is still up in the air. Unvaccinated students will be allowed to finish fall 2021 classes.

CSU Monterey Bay, Monterey Peninsula College and Hartnell College received a combined total of $26 million in assistance during the pandemic, while Monterey County students saw $9.5 million in aid. This aid included funding for with distance learning, tuition reimbursements and more.

As of Sept. 16, 130 inmates in the Monterey County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19. This outbreak comes as more precautions are being put in place.

The Central Coast YMCA is offering free membership for 12- to 18-year-olds who can show proof of vaccination. The offer runs through Oct. 31 at YMCA locations in Salinas, San Benito County and Watsonville.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring masks in Monterey County—but only if the risk of COVID-19 transmission is “substantial or high,” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Department has announced an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Monterey County Jail. Of the 51 people who tested positive, 30 are inmates, 16 are deputies and five are contractors.

City Manager Steve Carrigan mandated on Monday that all city buildings and offices will require mask-wearing indoors. The move comes on the heels of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voting against a mask mandate.

With 10,000 students in the district, there have been just six cases of school-acquired COVID-19 in this school year, while 120 students reported community-acquired COVID infections.

The Carmel City Council voted 3-2 to allow dining parklets at least until Oct. 12. The decision comes with a catch: restaurants must pay for each city-owned parking spot they occupy.

On Sept. 4, the federal unemployment insurance program known as the Pandemic Unemployment Insurance benefit expires. In response, the Workforce Development Board has expanded hours for job seekers at its One Stop Career Centers.