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Salinas
January 11, 2026

Salinas Valley cities declare local emergency over coronavirus threat, as Monterey County confirms first two cases

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
SALINAS VALLEY — The South Monterey County cities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City each signed proclamations declaring a local emergency Monday due to the current threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ā€œThe potential spread of the virus does pose a risk to our...

Studies examine variant surging in California, and the news isn’t good

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 County offers Covid-19 test kits for local distribution

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County continues to invest in bringing Covid-19 testing supplies to the community for local distribution. Covid-19 home antigen test kits are available to local organizations and community groups that can distribute them to their members and clients. In addition, organizations can request...

Monterey County, Bay Area health officers urge caution as Covid cases rise

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s health officer is joining 10 other officials from the Bay Area in stressing the importance of taking safety precautions, such as masking indoors, as the region experiences a new surge of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. The Bay Area now has...

Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau plans to enforce Covid-19 citations

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s Environmental Health Bureau has conducted 1,971 visits to area businesses since September, which resulted in 12 citations for violations of Covid-related health orders and one permit revocation. Ricardo Encarnacion, assistant bureau chief for the Environmental Health Bureau, made the announcement...

Monterey County considers countywide mask mandate

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors will review implementation of a countywide indoor mask mandate during a special meeting Wednesday.  The supervisors are expected to endorse it after earlier approving a mask mandate for all county buildings. The decision came after a late August...

Monterey County encourages residents to respond to state antibodies study

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
MONTEREY COUNTY — California Department of Public Health and Stanford University are working on a study called CalScope, which aims to measure antibodies in the populace and determine which activities are connected to different antibody levels in the fight against Covid-19. They will survey random...

Greenfield McDonald’s offers free Big Macs for vaccine registrants

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,...

Why California is still in a state of emergency

California has one of the lowest coronavirus case rates in the nation. And after being one of the nation’s most stringently locked-down states for more than a year, the state next week will lift nearly all of its pandemic rules in what officials have...

Biden mandates vaccines for workers, saying, ā€˜Our patience is wearing thin’

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday used the full force of his presidency to push two-thirds of U.S. workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, reaching into the private sector to mandate that all companies with more than 100 workers require vaccination or...

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Greenfield man sentenced to 25 years in prison for child molestation

GREENFIELD — A Monterey County judge sentenced Miguel Rubio, 42, of Greenfield, to 25 years in prison for committing three counts of forcible lewd...