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CALIFORNIA
3:20 p.m.
California is reporting, as of June 24, 195,571 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 5,349 people have died from the coronavirus. That marks an increase of 101 deaths and 5,349 cases from the day before. Local health departments have reported 13,958 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 85 deaths statewide. There have been 3,694,345 tests conducted in California.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
12:35 p.m.
Dr. Gail Newel, the Santa Cruz County health officer, is reminding the public about ways to stay safe:
- Wash hands
- Wear face coverings
- Cough or Sneeze into your arm
- Stay home when sick
- Keep 6 feet of distance between you and others
- Strongly recommends that people over the age of 65 stay home except when absolutely necessary
12:32 p.m.
Santa Cruz County’s shelter-in-place order will end on July 6. The county will therefore be fully aligned with the state order. Face coverings are required, including for children over the age of 2. County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said this may seem stringent and difficult for children, but she believes parents can help accomplish this.
12:25 p.m.
Santa Cruz County is lifting their beach restrictions tonight (Thursday, June 25) at midnight. This means residents can visit county beaches anytime. Sunbathing is also now allowed. County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel originally wanted to continue the beach restrictions through the 4th of July weekend. However, she said it has become impossible for law enforcement to enforce the rules because people are not willing to be governed. City beaches may have their own restrictions.
12:20 p.m.
Looking ahead to the 4th of July holiday weekend, Santa Cruz County health officials are not recommending gatherings, but are spreading information on ways to stay safe. At gatherings, people should minimize contact with others, keep visits short, wear face coverings, don’t share utensils or sports equipment and disinfect commonly-touched surfaces. Officials are discouraging potlucks and say gathering outdoors is safer than indoors.
12:16 p.m.
Dr. Newel said COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting communities of color in Santa Cruz County. There has been an increase in cases in South County with new cases among the Latinx population in the Watsonville area.
12:15 p.m.
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said Thursday the county is experiencing a jump in cases, the greatest increase to date. Newel said this is not a surprise and what they were expecting with more people out and about. Family gatherings still appear to be the greatest cause of most new cases. Almost all of the cases are person to person spread, from a known contact.
11:45 a.m.
Santa Cruz County is reporting, as of June 25, 337 total known cases of COVID-19 with 106 active known cases. That marks an increase of 7 new cases since the report on June 24. Three residents have now died from the virus. 41 people have required hospitalization and 228 people have recovered. 15,266 negative test results have been recorded.
11:40 a.m.
Santa Cruz County announced Thursday that a third resident has died from complications of COVID-19. The patient was a male in his mid-90s who had several underlying health conditions and was in hospice care. Health officials say his death wasn’t caused by COVID-19, but that the virus was a contributing factor. The method of transmission is under investigation, but it’s believed that it was most likely from close contact. The man lived in mid-county and died on June 15.
MONTEREY COUNTY
12:50 p.m.
The California CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) is providing funding to small cities to help with COVID-19 related expenses. According to the League of Cities, Monterey will receive $349,476. The amount is based on a per capita rate. The City of Monterey has a population of just over 28,000 residents. The city has experienced a $13 million drop in revenue since March due to the pandemic.
The money is to be used for public health, public safety, homlessness and other services to help combat the pandemic.
11:10 a.m.
Monterey County is reporting, as of June 25, 1,416 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The county says that’s an increase of 19 cases over a 24 hour period. Fatalities remain at 12. 118 people have required hospitalization for the coronavirus. 862 have recovered. 22,644 tests have been conducted in Monterey County.
11:05 a.m.
The Carmel Valley Branch Library is beginning a trial run of curbside pickup service. Library users can pick up materials on hold this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For questions about this new service, call 831-659-2377 or hamelinep@co.monterey.ca.us. Both of the library's book drops are now fully reopened.
11 a.m.
The UFW Foundation, in partnership with World Central Kitchen, will distribute about 4,000 freshly prepared meals to farmworker families in Salinas today. The distribution begins at 4 p.m. and will take place at the Salinas Sports Complex. Everyone working is required to wear a mask and social distancing must be followed. The meals will now be distributed at least once a week in Salinas.
10:55 a.m.
The City of Monterey and the Monterey County Food Bank are restarting their produce give-away program for families and seniors beginning Monday, June 29th. The weekly program will be held at the large parking lot at El Estero Park Center from 10:30 a.m. to 1 pm. Anyone wanting to receive the produce must register.Anyone wanting to receive the produce must register.