Santa Cruz County Health Articles

The Santa Cruz County organization provides services for people that use drugs, many of whom are homeless, including a needle exchange program.

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 …

The Food and Drug Administration broadens Pfizer’s authorization to cover the younger age group on an emergency basis.

California has historically been ahead of the rest of the country in expanding the legal right to abortion services. Here’s what state laws say today, and how we got here.

WATSONVILLE—Just hours after a group of roughly 150 nurses amassed in front of Watsonville Community Hospital to drum up public support and stop its closure, they received a welcome bit of news. The Pajaro Valley Health Care District Project has …

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel on Friday issued a health order requiring all people to wear a face-covering when indoors in public spaces and when visiting or hosting people from outside of their households, regardless of …

SANTA CRUZ—Several inmates at Santa Cruz County Main Jail tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday in what jail officials say is the most significant outbreak since the start of the pandemic. According to Sheriff’s Sgt. Daniel Robbins, about 12 inmates …

A new California law to lower speed limits, AB 43, is part of an overall effort, called ‘Vision Zero,’ to eliminate traffic deaths completely. Here’s what the law does, and why it can make a difference.

The pesky mosquito can be deadly as well as annoying. Here’s how local governments in California have been waging war on mosquitoes for more than a century.

Sam Quinones, whose last book dealt with the opioid epidemic, talks to the LA Times about his new work on the twin perils of fentanyl and meth.

In a series of articles, the Los Angeles Times explores the most literal result of global warming: extreme heat.

California will soon add a new emergency hotline service with the number 988. Here’s the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.

Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health, even to suspend laws and commandeer private property. Here’s why, and how it works.

Noise is a form of pollution that threatens public health like any other type of environmental pollution. Here's what federal, state and local governments are doing to quiet things down.

The state of California, as well as some local governments, will soon require all public employees to be vaccinated against COVID. Here’s why they’re taking that step.

Mask requirements appear to be on the way back in California, including for fully vaccinated people. Here's why.

The delta variant and often lagging vaccination rates are putting California in new danger from COVID-19.

A new report reveals that only 20 counties have complied with a law requiring release of workplace COVID outbreak data.

A Superior Court Judge has placed at least some limits on the governor's power to impose health-related restrictions. Here's what that means.

Information about the state and local response to the COVID-19 pandemic changes frequently.

Use these local information resources to stay updated.