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0000017a-a073-da61-a1ff-fe7bfe8f0000NOTE: THIS COVID-19 BLOG HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND INCLUDES OUTDATED INFORMATION.WE CURRENTLY PUBLISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER UPDATES.FOR OUR CURRENT COVID-19 COVERAGE & RESOURCES PAGE, CLICK HERE. HELPFUL LINKSCalifornia Department of Public HealthCalifornia COVID-19 WebpageSanta Cruz County Health Services AgencyCity of Santa Cruz Coronavirus WebpageMonterey County Health DepartmentCity of Monterey Coronavirus WebpageCOVID-19 Dashboard by Johns Hopkins UniversityCalifornia Public Media COVID-19 TrackerLocal COVID-19 Testing Appointments ?COVID-19 Case Mapper?Bay Area & Monterey Co. Resources- Food, Medical, LegalHELPLINES & CALL CENTERS Santa Cruz County COVID-19 hotline: 831-454-4242 or text “COVID19” to 211-211Monterey County COVID-19 hotline: 831-755-4521 or 831-769-8700 or 211

Friday Updates: 6/5/20

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CALIFORNIA

5:15 p.m.

The California Department of Public Health released new guidelines for counties that have been approved by the state to resume more activities. That includes Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.  This guidance is effective June 12 and can only be implemented once the local health officer approves it. 

5 p.m.

The California Department of Public Health released interim guidance for schools on Friday to help teachers and parents prepare for the fall. The guidance will be updated as the school year draws closer with the latest available science. 

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Department of General Services will help schools by providing personal protective equipment, or PPE, and other supplies.

Guidance for Day Camps

4:55 p.m.

The California Department of Public Health has released its first County Monitoring List to give people an insight into how their community is doing amid the coronavirus pandemic. This will also allow the state to provide early indication of any areas of concern.

4:25 p.m.

The California Department of Public Health says as of June 4, there are 122,901 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. 4,485 people have died. That’s an increase of 63 deaths since June 3. Local health departments have reported 10,750 confirmed positive cases in healthcare workers, with 65 deaths statewide. 2,238,463 tests have been conducted in California.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

1 p.m.

The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County plans to resume more services next week, beginning Monday, June 8. Clerk’s offices will return to their standard 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. schedule Monday through Friday. The Court Law Library will resume limited in-person hours from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. All criminal court calendars will resume, although some courtrooms will be closed until June 15. The Watsonville Courthouse will reopen on June 15. 

Since shelter-in-place orders took effect, the court has been able to operate essential court services. It conducted some proceedings outdoors for social distancing purposes. The plan to increase services includes the use of technology for remote court proceedings. The court also formed a task force to plan for the return of jurors later this summer. More information about safety precautions and hours can be found here.

10:30 a.m.

As of June 4, there are 221 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Santa Cruz County residents. That marks an increase of two cases since June 3. Fatalities remain at two people, 32 have required hospitalization and 177 have recovered from the virus. 9,541 negative tests have been recorded in the county.

10:15 a.m.

Five restaurants and caterers in Santa Cruz County have been chosen to take part in Great Plates Delivered. The federally and state-funded program delivers fresh meals to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deliveries began over Memorial Day weekend. So far, thousands of meals have been delivered to 413 participants. The program is scheduled to end on June 10, but the state has requested a 30-day extension from the federal government. 

Participating restaurants/caterers:

  • The Back Nine
  • Johnny’s Harborside
  • Roaring Camp
  • Pearl of the Ocean
  • Swing Time
MONTEREY COUNTY

6:10 p.m.

Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said Friday evening that county officials will immediately review the state’s newly released guidance to reopen hotels, wineries, aquariums and other activities. The state is allowing these sectors to reopen June 12, and only under approval from local health officers.

5:50 p.m.

The city of Pacific Grove plans to close part of Lighthouse Avenue beginning Friday, June 12, for a 30-day trial to expand outdoor space for food and shops. Both sides of Lighthouse Avenue will be closed to car access between 16th Street and Forest Avenue, between Grand Avenue and Fountain Avenue. Restaurants will feature outdoor dining, retail stores will sell goods and the city will provide fire pits, music, restrooms and hand-washing stations to the public. The City is licensing space to interested Pacific Grove businesses or food trucks, free of charge. Interested businesses can contact the City’s Business Ombudsperson, Laurel O’Halloran at lohalloran@cityofpacificgrove.org.

5:40 p.m.

Monterey County Supervisor Mary Adams will host a webinar on Wednesday, June 10, along with local medical, business and city leaders. The discussion will focus on how restaurants and retail shops are preparing to open safely. 

4:45 p.m.
MEarth, a local environmental education nonprofit, has transformed their garden to feed those in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Distribution of fresh produce will go through the Monterey County Food Bank and a Carmel High School group called this Club Saves Lives. MEarth expects the produce will be available as soon as next month.

2:45 p.m.

As more services resume, Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said the health department has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases, but not a significant increase in hospitalizations.

2:40 p.m.

The Monterey County Health Department provided an update on COVID-19 contact investigations on Friday. For every case in the county, there are typically about eight close contacts, although one case involved more than 50 people. One of the main objectives of contact tracers is education, for example, teaching people how to self quarantine. To date, county contact tracers have been in touch with 2,700 people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus. The county is seeking volunteers to help with their call center, translation of documents and contact investigation.

2:20 p.m.

Natividad volunteers have donated hundreds of masks to hospital staff. More than 70 volunteers came together to hand sew washable, reusable masks. It took about two weeks to make over 1,700 masks.

2:15 p.m.

More details are coming out about how the Monterey Library will reopen for curbside service next week. An announcement of the exact reopening date will be made on Monday (June 8). It’s expected that Tuesday and Wednesday (June 9 and 10) will be test run days and the Library will officially reopen on Thursday (June 11). About 1,800 items, books and other items, have already been reserved for check out.

 
2:10 p.m.

Monterey is studying today’s announcement by Governor Gavin Newsom that allows the reopening of schools, gyms, day camps and wine tasting rooms. The announcement could allow the city to reopen its Sports Center. When and how that would happen still needs to be determined.

 
2:05 p.m.

The city of Monterey has rescinded beach access restrictions beginning this weekend. Beachgoers can now sunbathe and picnic on beaches within city limits. The announcement brings the city in line with restrictions from the state and county.

 
10:40 a.m.

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Committee will host a virtual town hall on re-opening personal care services. Speakers include Supervisors Mary Adams and Jane Parker. The discussion will focus on issues for personal care services, such as nail salons and fitness, which are scheduled to reopen in Stage 3 of California’s roadmap to reopening. 

10 a.m.
The Monterey County Health Department is reporting 640 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Monterey County residents. That marks an increase of 19 cases since the previous report. 69 residents have required hospitalization and 384 have recovered from the virus. Local labs have conducted 11,690 tests.

9:25 a.m.

Monterey County Free Libraries will distribute Grab n’ Go lunches for youth this summer. The weekly distributions will begin next week. Library buildings are temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the County Library has planned virtual summer programs for kids in addition to the six-week Grab n’ Go lunches. The weekly meals will come with activity bags.

Meal Distribution Schedule:

• Aromas – Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 

• Big Sur - Fridays from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 

• Buena Vista – Tuesdays from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 

• Carmel Valley – Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 

• Castroville – Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm 

• Gonzales – Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 

• Greenfield - Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 

• King City – Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 

• Marina – Thursdays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm 

 

Erika joined KAZU in 2016. Her roots in radio began at an early age working for the independent community radio station in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. After graduating from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2012, Erika spent four years working as a television reporter. She’s very happy to be back in public radio and loves living in the Monterey Bay Area.