Happy, Tuesday, and, before the big news, here’s our next big event:
It’s two weeks from tonight, we’re calling it “Santa Cruz Eats” and it will be very cool. Not just because I’m co-hosting (!), but because we’ll have the good fortune of picking the brains of a handful of the area’s most prominent food impresarios.
More on that below. But now for the big color-coded news here in Santa Cruz County:
➤ YELLOW!!! WHAT’S THAT MEAN? Yes, we are on track to become just the second Bay Area county — and one of just a handful in the state — to move into the yellow tier next week. What the heck to make of that below, along with the day’s other headlines …
On the path from orange to yellow
COVID TODAY: According to the state guidelines, a county must meet the criteria for a less restrictive tier for two consecutive weeks before advancing. Santa Cruz County appears to be on track to satisfy that requirement by next week, meaning it would advance to the yellow tier on Tuesday, April 27, with the new, looser restrictions going into effect on Wednesday, April 28. Mallory Pickett spells out what that would mean for us here.
➤ FEEDBACK: When you’re sure they are safe to happen, what are the main social gatherings you’ll be hosting? What have you missed the most? Hit reply and tell me.
Playing catchup, from teeth care to cancer treatment
VACCINE WATCH: With medical visits picking up again among patients vaccinated against COVID-19, health providers are starting to see the consequences of a year of pandemic-delayed preventive and emergency care as they find more advanced cancer and rotting and damaged teeth, among other ailments. Our content partner Kaiser Health News has the details here.
➤ FEEDBACK: Do you have stories about fearing the dental pause collateral damage awaiting you (I sure did) or important takeaways about surgeries/treatments that got delayed over the past year? Help out your fellow readers if you can by hitting reply and relaying your story.
Whither the Netflix binge effect?
PANDEMIC LIFE: The Los Gatos company had projected it would add 6 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2021. Instead, it added 3.98 million, a 75% decline from a year ago when Netflix gained a whopping number of customers as people sheltered at home. It also was a 53% decline from the prior quarter. More on that from content partner the LA Times here.
➤ FEEDBACK: Are you watching more or less streaming video these days? If less, is there a healthy reason behind it, such as getting outside in nature more often? Hit reply and talk to me.
More from here & elsewhere
➤ The U.S. is vaccinating millions of Americans daily. Why COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are up (CNN)
➤ These blood clot experts want you to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s why. (CNN)
➤ As underserved areas grapple with vaccine inequities, Sean Penn’s nonprofit joins effort to get doses to residents (LA Times)
➤ Lagging Vaccination Rates Among Rural Seniors Hint At Brewing Rural-Urban Divide (NPR)
➤ Ted Nugent says he has COVID-19 after claiming the pandemic is not real (USA Today)
➤ Is herd immunity to COVID-19 possible? Experts increasingly say no. (USA Today)
➤ Former Giants prospect Gustavo Cabrera dead at 25 due to COVID-19 complications (SF Gate)
➤ Which Disneyland restaurants will be open when the park reopens, and how to make dining reservations (SF Gate)
The big dining event is May 4
“Santa Cruz Eats!” is part of Lookout’s COVID 2021 series, a special initiative to do deep reporting and community engagement on the pandemic — and economic recovery.
Damani Thomas, owner and chef at Oswald; Brad Briske, co-owner and chef of HOME in Soquel; and Gema Cruz, chef at Gabriella Cafe, will join Lookout for a virtual conversation at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, hosted by Lookout food contributor Amber Turpin and Me.
Click here to register for this awesome, FREE event.
And see you all tomorrow.
Mark Conley
Deputy Managing Editor