Santa Cruz County COVID-19 Digest

While the federal government has loosened mask mandates, California Health officials announced Monday that masks will be required indoors until June 15.

County and local activists seek to combat false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine on social media.

According to a report heard by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the COVID-19 pandemic has had greater impacts on Latinx and Black communities than white ones.

After COVID-19 hit, Cabrillo College officials expected a jump in enrollment that typically comes with a battered economy—but the numbers went in the other direction.

Despite the challenges, many climate-focused groups say the past year offered many lessons.

Reporter Melissa Hartman explores the stories of some of the 200 local lives lost in the year of COVID.

With almost 150,000 doses administered, the county prepares to expand eligibility to include adults age 50 to 64.

The Watsonville Senior Center has emerged as a hub for getting vulnerable residents vaccinated against COVID and coordinating other services for locals in need.

In partnership with the Santa Cruz Warriors basketball team, local health services provider Kaiser Permanente announced plans to open a vaccination center in the Santa Cruz Warrior's Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz for COVID vaccinations.

The 8 Little Leagues comprising District 39 are in various phases of enrolling and preparing for the coming season.

Under revised California Department of Public Health guidelines, amusement parks will be allowed to reopen and outdoor sports and other events may resume as soon as April.

The guidelines will restrict capacity and maintain mask and social distancing mandates.

After a small COVID-19 outbreak was detected at the San Lorenzo Park homeless encampment, county officials are organizing an effort to emphasize vaccination of vulnerable individuals beginning March 15.

Despite the fact that local senior care facilities were the locations with the largest death toll from COVID-19, lack of coordination in December and January led to senior care residents not being among the earliest to be vaccinated.

Kindergarteners returned to in-person classes in Scotts Valley as local schools slowly reopen almost a full year since the beginning of the pandemic.

As COE and district officials anticipate the county entering the less restrictive red tier within several days, plans have been announced for the resumption of in-person middle and high school classes.

A group of people bearing signs comparing mask mandates to attacks against freedom, and attempted to storm into Trader Joe's again, but were prevented from entering the store by a line of employees who scrambled to block them.

County of Santa Cruz spokesperson Jason Hoppin reflects on what has been accomplished and what remains to be done in moving forward in implementing anti-racism policies, especially in regards to health equity.

The Capitola City Council voted to submit an application for state block grant funding to back grants of up to $7500 to local businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Santa Cruz County continues to make progress in vaccinations against COVID-19, with more than half of local teachers and seniors over the age of 65 receiving their first dose.

In the wake of a recent storming of a local Trader Joe's by an anti-mask protest mob, the Santa Cruz City Council is considering how to crackdown on possible future such events.

In anticipation of the county entering the "red tier" COVID category, local schools are preparing to reopen for in-person classes.

Officials and staff at Santa Cruz METRO are advocating that transportation workers receive priority access to COVID vaccinations.

The county lost almost 17,000 jobs since the onset of the pandemic, especially in the tourist related industries.

The push to vaccinate county teachers and support staff continues, with officials hopeful of being completed within the next week or so.

A profile of three San Lorenzo Valley institutions and how they continue to serve the mountain community during COVID-19.