The milestone comes as officials urge more residents to get the shots, part of the effort to ward off a feared coronavirus resurgence this winter.
COVID Today
Posted inCOVID Today
COVID-19 surge in Europe as it heads into winter could bode ill for U.S.
As Europe copes with a COVID surge, battle lines are forming between the vaccine-willing and vaccine-resistant. Sound familiar?
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Can I get my COVID-19 booster shot now? Here’s what you need to know
Some health officials, including in California, are increasingly pointing out that eligibility criteria can be interpreted in a more expansive way.
Posted inK-12 Education
How to sign up children ages 5 to 11 for the COVID-19 vaccine in Santa Cruz County
Parents and guardians started signing up their children ages 5 to 11 for the COVID-19 vaccine this week after a final panel of experts approved the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. County officials will launch their vaccine program for the age group Monday.
Posted inLatest News
CZU family approved for new home in Habitat for Humanity development
Over a year after losing their rental home in the CZU Lightning Complex fire, Luke Politte and Amber Julien — along with son Leo and two dogs — will finally have a permanent spot to land, thanks to Habitat for Humanity. “It’s like a huge weight has been lifted off of our shoulders,” Julien said.
Posted inCOVID Today
After months of decline, coronavirus cases plateau in California. Can we avoid a new surge?
California has stopped recording week-over-week declines in coronavirus cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations. What does that mean, especially with the holiday season square upon us?
Posted inCOVID Today
Questions about the vaccine for your 5- to 11-year-olds? Tune in to these town halls this week
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education will be hosting two webinars this week to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccination ahead of the expected emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11. The town hall offered in Spanish is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and in English for Thursday at 6:30 p.m., via Zoom.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Long time no see: Santa Cruz County’s international residents welcome loosening of travel restrictions
The U.S. State Department announced earlier this month that international travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be eligible to enter the United States beginning Nov. 8. Locals who have family abroad are breathing a sigh of relief.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Crying on the way into work’: Watsonville Hospital nurses denounce short-staffing conditions
Watsonville Community Hospital nurses took to the streets Friday to hold an informational picket over short-staffed working conditions. Nurses say Los Angeles-based managing firm Prospect Medical Holdings can do better to fix matters; the hospital says it is doing what it can to increase hiring.
Posted inCOVID 2022
CDC poised to expand COVID booster shots. What does that look like in Santa Cruz?
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the types of COVID booster shots it recommends for Americans, making tens of millions more eligible. Locally, health care providers say they are preparing for the expected spike in demand.
