Morning Lookout: As Delta details grow scarier, more establishments take precautions

By Tulsi Kamath

Source: Lookout Santa Cruz

Good Friday Morning!

After the patchy drizzle passes, we’ll be looking at a pleasant day in the low 70s — and similar for the weekend as well.

We’re waking up to more concerning conversation around the contagiousness of the Delta variant, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is likening to the Chicken Pox.

While Santa Cruz County has done a better job than most in getting people vaccinated, and the number of active COVID cases related to the variant remain low, there is still plenty of room for concern. And news of more precautions being taken at a nightlife establishment in the San Lorenzo Valley bring the growing concern to more tangible life.

To the headlines...

San Lorenzo Valley bar temporarily closes due to positive COVID-19 cases

Closed for a week: Joe’s Bar in Boulder Creek has announced it will be temporarily closing for a week due to positive COVID-19 results in both patrons and staff. The announcement came via Joe’s Facebook page. More from Neil Strebig here.

➤ IN FELTON: Felton Music Hall shows going outdoors-only after outbreak (Lookout)

➤ AND ELSEWHERE: Delta readjustments: Rio postpones show, Moe’s institutes vaccination checks, FMH installs new air filters (Lookout)

➤ ALSO: Santa Cruz brewery to require vaccination for indoor use (Sentinel)

➤ COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS: When to mask up, whether to fear a shutdown (Lookout)

CDC document paints more dire picture of threat posed by Delta variant

Updated details on infectiousness: The Delta variant is more formidable than previously believed, due to its ability to infect and be spread by people who are vaccinated, a CDC document says. More from the LA Times.

Disneyland, some other parks are requiring masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status

Boardwalk sticks to local rules: Disneyland, Universal Studios and Magic Mountain are among the California parks returning to stricter mask requirements amid the latest COVID-19 surge. In Santa Cruz, the Boardwalk has not implemented any mask or vaccination mandates for visitors but mirrors county recommendations on wearing masks indoors and in crowded spaces. More details here.

How the Delta variant could shake up the 2022 midterm election

What that might look like: Democrats must contend with plunging optimism and frustration with new rules on masking and vaccinations, while Republicans risk being blamed for the large number of vaccine holdouts in their party. More from the Times here.

➤ ALSO: The Newsom recall: What happens between now and election day (LAT)

‘Difficult situation’ for athletes in Tokyo

Even for athletes with family in Tokyo, separation remains part of these Olympics: Most foreign athletes in these Games don’t have close relatives in the country after foreigners were barred from entering Japan to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. There are just a few known exceptions among Team USA’s delegation of 613 athletes. More from the Times.

➤ ALSO: U.S. women’s soccer team edges Netherlands on penalty kicks to advance at Olympics (LAT)

BOLO Best Bets for the weekend ahead

Cabrillo Festival’s stunning debut, studio tours in Bonny Doon, stand-up comedy and much more. Get the whole rundown from our BOLO crew here.

Around the county...

Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency to host sustainability event Saturday (Sentinel)

Family sues skilled nursing facility in Aptos woman’s death (Sentinel)

Watsonville settles wrongful death lawsuit (Pajaronian)

That’s it for today. Toward the weekend we go.

Mark Conley
mark@lookoutocal.com