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Santa Cruz County COVID-19 Articles



Image caption: The 'Red, White and Blueprint' group plans to spread from Shasta to other California counties.
A Militia Used the Recall Process to Seize Power in One Northern County

Members of a far-right militia group backed a recall election against a conservative Republican to take control of the Board of Supervisors in Shasta County. Here’s how it happened.

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Santa Cruz, Monterey counties will lift mask mandates on Feb. 16

In alignment with the state, 11 Bay Area counties, including Monterey and Santa Cruz, and the City of Berkeley will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings on Feb. 16. Unvaccinated individuals over the age of 2 will …

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Covid testing site moves from Ramsay to new County building Wednesday

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The OptumServe Covid-19 testing site at Ramsay Park will be moving to the county facility at 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville on Wednesday.   “I’d like to thank the City of Watsonville Parks and Rec for their partnership the …

Image caption: Sheriffs are supposed to stand for ’law and order,’ but some believe they are a law unto themselves.
Right-Wing Extremism Among County Sheriffs, Explained

Sheriffs in some California counties and across the USA are engaging a dangerous movement toward right-wing extremism. What does this mean for local law enforcement?

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Santa Cruz County classrooms expected to stay open amid COVID surge

About 25% of students stayed home this week, county schools superintendent said.

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Covid-19 Surge at County’s Main Jail

55 inmates and seven guards have tested positive for Covid-19 at Santa Cruz County's Main Jail

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Unsanctioned pop-up Covid-19 test sites raise concerns

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County and California health officials are recommending that anyone needing a Covid-19 test get it from a sanctioned provider, after an unsanctioned company set up pop-up testing sites in Santa Cruz and Watsonville last week. That …

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County Health Officials: Cloth Masks ‘No Longer Preferred’ Option

The updated recommendation comes as Santa Cruz County is facing a record-breaking surge in the number of people contracting Covid

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Local schools battered by winter Covid-19 surge

Up until mid-December, the Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District had seen just a single case of Covid-19 in its student body this school year. And before that, it had only recorded one other case during the entire pandemic. Now, …

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Schools plagued by mass absences as classes return

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The new year has brought with it larger-than-average absence rates as students throughout Santa Cruz County return to in-person instruction.  Since Jan. 6, there have been 1,387 positive Covid-19 cases out of roughly 16,000 teachers and students tested, …

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Older adult programs shutter as Covid-19 cases rise

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In early November 2021, Meals on Wheels’ (MOW) congregate meal sites reopened to older adults across Santa Cruz County for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Staff and volunteers from MOW, a program of umbrella …

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At-Home Covid Tests Change Pandemic Response

There’s been a lot of discussion among health officers that case rates aren’t going to be accurate going forward because of home testing

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Breaking Down Omicron

UCSC infectious disease ecology professor Marm Kilpatrick addresses questions about the Covid variant

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Covid-19 outbreak puts a damper on local prep and college sports

A rise in Covid-19 cases throughout Santa Cruz County has put a halt to some collegiate and high school sports events in the area. The Cabrillo men’s basketball team was supposed to begin its California Community College Athletic Association Coast …

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Santa Cruz County schools distribute thousands of rapid Covid-19 tests

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—School districts throughout Santa Cruz County have passed out some 80,000 rapid-result Covid-19 test kits to families, as kids return to in-person instruction from winter break and officials try to prevent a surge via school campuses. As of …

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County health officials: avoid the ER unless seriously ill

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County public health officials are asking that anyone with asymptomatic or mild coronavirus cases—or other non-serious illnesses—stay home and avoid unnecessary trips to already burdened hospital emergency departments. The county also renewed its call for everyone …

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Two CDC Reports Indicate COVID Vaccines Rarely Lead to Problems in Younger Children

Most of the 43,000 children surveyed reported nothing more than pain at the site of the shot, fatigue or a headache, especially after the second dose

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County providing Covid-19 tests ahead of return to school

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As students prepare to return to school on Jan. 4, districts across the county are offering families a tool to test their children for Covid-19 before they return. While not required for return to class, the tests are …

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Scotts Valley Begins Early Stages of Recreation Restart

As it embarks on the next phase of pandemic planning, Scotts Valley is pushing forward with its plan to restore parks and recreation activities. Speaking during the most recent Scotts Valley City Council meeting on Dec. 15, Public Works Director …

Image caption: The Omicron variant spreads twice as fast as the highly contagious Delta variant.
What is ‘Omicron,’ and What’s California Doing About it?

Omicron is a new variant of the COVID-causing coronavirus that has now arrived in California and is causing fears of a new pandemic wave. What is it? Why are people so worried? And what, if anything, is California doing to …

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