Santa Clara County COVID-19 Digest

Palo Alto's California Avenue used to be a bustling shopping area, but is now filled with vacant buildings. Many locals wonder if the street can make a comeback following the financial hits from COVID-19.

Apple employees are now required to be vaccinated or frequently tested, following new mandates unrolled by the company on Nov. 1.

Santa Clara County expects to roll out vaccines for ages 5-11 as early as next week, with 55,000 doses of the modified Pfizer shot expected to arrive.

County health officials are encouraging those who are eligible to get their COVID-19 boosters after the government updated its guidance.

Bay Area Rapid Transit is the latest company to require COVID-19 vaccines for its employees. Workers have until Dec. 13 to provide proof of vaccination.

Fewer than 67,000 people have received a booster shot in Santa Clara County—a concerningly low number, according to officials.

All Stanford University employees have been notified of a December deadline to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Proof of vaccination is due by Dec. 8 in order to retain employment.

COVID stress is a real thing, and combined with other common stressors of living in the Bay Area—high housing cost, decreased employment—many locals would consider leaving.

Santa Clara County, along with its fellow Bay Area neighbors, is implementing a transition plan in anticipation of conditions allowing for safe removal of mask mandates. The Bay Area remains one of the most vaccinated regions of California.

Santa Clara County has decided to use its American Rescue Plan Act funding to give back to its employees, with $76 million to be distributed among county workers.

With San Jose's total vaccinated workforce increasing from 89 percent to 92 percent, city employees have one week left to get their first shot before facing a disciplinary process that could include job termination.

Santa Clara County health officials announced on Monday that Pfizer booster shot locations are now operational.

As of Monday, proof of vaccine is now required at the state’s biggest entertainment and sports venues, including San Jose’s SAP Center.

Just weeks into the 2021-22 school year, the Milpitas Unified School District has reported 44 cases of COVID-19. Forty-two students across 15 schools tested positive for the virus, along with two teachers.

The city of Morgan Hill will soon disburse up to $100,000 in federal “rescue” funds to local nonprofits, with a priority on organizations that were affected by COVID-19 or have a track record of supporting those who suffered due to the pandemic.

San Jose employees will have to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination by the end of this month or face suspension, the city announced. Employees will no longer be able to submit weekly tests instead of vaccination proof.

The Los Gatos-Saratoga School District will host its first vaccination clinic Sept. 12 at Saratoga High School, to serve both high school communities. Since so many in the community are already vaccinated, the clinic is also offering flu shots.

With COVID cases back up, some parents are asking their Cupertino schools to bring back the previous distance learning option for students. The school district says their hands are tied.

After being repeatedly asked at mobile vaccination clinics what could be done for homebound seniors, nurse Jennifer Rivera started a home visit program. The team also visits long-term care facilities.

Downtown eateries and bars took a hit during COVID-19, but now some businesses are grappling with a major loss in foot traffic after many tech companies continued allowing employees to work from home.

A teacher shortage and more students enrolled in independent study led the Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees to consider collapsing four elementary school classes. On Aug. 30, staff changed course and will not close the classes.

California has some of the most extensive workplace vaccine requirements in the nation, but they don’t cover every industry. Some advocates say the state should expand its vaccine mandates to certain industries.

“The researcher injected the tiniest needle I've ever seen into my precious toddler's chunky thigh, saying "This is BNT162b2 3 micrograms or placebo in 0.2 mL."

A Harvard University study found evidence linking smoke from wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington in 2020 to rising COVID cases and deaths. They said that fine particulate matter acts as a vehicle for spreading infection and makes existing cases worse.

As the Delta variant brings renewed uncertainty around gathering indoors, many Bay Area tech companies are rethinking return-to-work plans.

Inspired by the recall campaign, Santa Clara County resident Jeff Roberts wants to remove the entire Board of Supervisors for imposing restrictions on businesses and places of worship during the pandemic.

Despite protests by anti-mask activists, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved a mandate that would require proof of vaccination from attendees of events with 50 or more people at city-owned facilities.

Residents against San Jose’s proposed proof of COVID-19 vaccination mandate for large events at city-owned facilities forced the suspension of council proceedings for nearly an hour.

School districts have reported student and staff COVID-19 cases since classes began, although there weren't known cases of the virus spreading among students on campus, district officials said.

Most students, faculty and staff at San Jose State University are back on campus for a mix of in person, hybrid and fully online classes. In addition, all must verify their vaccination status by Sept. 30.

Palo Alto elementary and middle school students will be required to wear masks outdoors—a move intended to make contact tracing easier.

Santa Clara County officials announced that individuals with a compromised immune system can get a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines.