Good Evening! This is Tulsi Kamath, filling in for Mark Conley, who has the day off. We’re still awaiting word from state health officials about the status of a very large batch of Moderna vaccines that are being investigated for possible allergic reactions.
We’ve also got a look at a restaurateur couple who are OPENING a business amid this pandemic. And we’re still getting through our box of tissue after reading Mark’s story about COVID claiming the life of teacher and coach Gene Johnson.
Be sure to tell everyone you know to sign up for this newsletter and COVID Text Alerts; they can also just text “Covid” to (831) 508-7524. Same goes for our big COVID 2021 virtual event — in English and Spanish — on Thursday night.
To the headlines . . .
Tapping the post-pandemic market
COVID ECONOMY: In a time when local businesses are shutting their doors, Dave and Terri Terwilleger are among the Santa Cruz entrepreneurs who are laying the groundwork for a post-pandemic economy. The owners of Tony & Alba’s pizzeria will be the impresarios behind the new Twig’s Tap House on Walnut Street in downtown Santa Cruz.
READ WALLACE BAINE’S STORY ABOUT THESE ENTREPRENEURS HERE
Health systems here see no ill effects from Moderna dose batch, but pause it anyway
COVID TODAY: Last night, California public health officials advised pausing the distribution of one lot of the Moderna vaccine due to possible allergic reactions. The lot in question, 41L20A, amounts to about 10% of the total vaccine allocation in the state, and thousands of doses have been shipped — and in some cases administered — here.
READ MORE ABOUT WHAT WE’RE LEARNING ABOUT LOT 41L20A
One couple fought the pandemic together — until ‘Pop’ lost the battle
FACES OF COVID: Gene and Doris Johnson were doing well in Watsonville Convalescent Hospital before the coronavirus changed everything. At least they still had each other — until Gene, a well-known teacher and coach, died last week.
MORE FACES OF COVID: If you haven’t already, you should also read Wallace Baine’s story about a Santa Cruz man who escaped the Holocaust but couldn’t escape COVID.
HAVE A COVID QUESTION? ASK LOOKOUT: We’ll find answers to your vaccine, COVID-19 questions
More from here and elsewhere
- How the new COVID-19 vaccine rules could help the pandemic end sooner (LA Times)
- Norway reviewing deaths of frail and elderly patients vaccinated against Covid-19 (CNN)
- Las inequidades por covid: ¿Por qué se ha visto afectado el sur del condado tan desproporcionadamente? (Isabella Cueto/ Lookout Santa Cruz)
- Trabajadores, protéjanse del COVID-19 (Pajaro Valley Save Lives)
- California abre las vacunas contra COVID a cualquier persona de 65 años o más (CalMatters)
COVID 2021, the ‘event’
What: A free community conversation in both English and Spanish about COVID-19, hosted by Lookout, where local experts answer your questions.
When: Thursday, Jan. 21, 6 p.m.
Where: Lookout will offer simultaneous Spanish interpretation, through a separate Zoom audio channel. Register here.
That’s all for tonight. Mark will be back at it tomorrow!
Tulsi Kamath
Managing Editor