COVID-19

MONTEREY COUNTY — California residents have been advised to stay indoors, and only leave their home for essential items or services, since the statewide stay-at-home order went into effect March 19 to help combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Essential businesses, however, can stay open...

CALIFORNIA — A variant first discovered in California in December is more contagious than earlier forms of the coronavirus, two new studies have shown, fueling concerns that emerging mutants like this one could hamper the sharp decline in cases overall in the state and...

MONTEREY — The Monterey Bay Aquarium will reopen May 15 following an unprecedented 13-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. New rules will be in effect for visitors, including online-only ticket sales, required face coverings and timed-entry. All guests age 3 and older, as well as...

MONTEREY COUNTY — The case rate metrics are not yet at a point where Monterey County can shift from the Orange Tier to the less-restrictive Yellow Tier, but county Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said the overall pattern observed is a positive trend toward...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s state-supported Covid-19 testing sites located in Seaside, Salinas and Soledad are expanding hours in response to an increase in demand for testing. The community testing sites will be adding additional days and appointment times as a result, announced Monterey County...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County last week received its initial supplies of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination, a total of 2,925 doses, and expects this week to receive its 4,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine.  Mee Memorial Healthcare System has been allocated 500 doses of the...

GREENFIELD — Community members who registered for a Covid-19 vaccine at McDonald’s in Greenfield recently were able to get a free Big Mac. The two-day event was held Aug. 6 and 7 in partnership between McDonald’s and Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid (VIDA) Monterey County,...

MONTEREY COUNTY — While the state of California lowered the tiers of multiple counties to the most restrictive tier (purple) earlier this month, Monterey County has never left the purple tier since the new system was implemented this summer. The latest restrictions also come...

MONTEREY COUNTY — A new community program called VIDA (Virus Integrated Distribution of Aide) was announced with a formal name during the March 31 press briefing for Monterey County, in which the City of Gonzales is a founding partner group. The formal start to the...

California became the first state to issue a vaccine mandate for all educators in public and private schools when Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered teachers and school staff members to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or face weekly testing. “We think it’ll be...