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April 29, 2026

What counts as ā€˜essential business’ in Monterey County amid COVID-19 stay-at-home order

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
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...

Monterey County lifts indoor mask mandate

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors has voted to suspend the masking requirement of its indoor face covering ordinance, effective immediately. ā€œThis means while wearing face coverings in indoor public settings remains strongly recommended, it is no longer required,ā€ according to Maia Carroll,...

Monterey County’s Covid-19 Stipend Program ends

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department’s Covid-19 Stipend Program has ended as of March 31, the decision of which came as vaccine rates increase and the number of new cases has decreased. The Stipend Program started in December 2020 with the aim of helping...

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...

Vaccinated Americans are free to travel but should still take precautions, CDC says

Americans who are fully vaccinated can travel ā€œat low risk to themselves,ā€ both within the United States and internationally, but they must continue to take precautions like wearing a mask in public, avoiding crowds, maintaining social distancing and washing hands frequently, federal health officials...

More contagious virus variant is now dominant in U.S., CDC chief says

WASHINGTON — A highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that was first identified in Britain has become the most common source of new infections in the United States, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. The worrisome development comes...

Monterey County doctors discuss increase in Covid-19 cases

MONTEREY COUNTY — Mee Memorial Hospital in King City will abide by recent state mandates that require hospital visitors to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test taken within the past 72 hours. Dr. Joshua Deutsch, a physician from Mee Memorial, confirmed...

Vaccination efforts continue as Monterey County moves to Orange Tier

MONTEREY COUNTY — Vaccination numbers continue to climb in Monterey County, with County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno announcing that more than 35% of county residents age 16 and over have received at least one vaccine dose. During a March 31 press briefing, Moreno noted...

Monterey County commits up to $1M for Covid-19 tests

MONTEREY COUNTY — As demand for rapid testing skyrockets, Monterey County Board of Supervisors has unanimously agreed to spend up to $1 million to purchase additional Covid-19 tests for the community. In a 5-0 vote last Tuesday, the Board committed to bringing more rapid tests...

Vaccination rates are lower in disadvantaged counties, CDC reports

Even though the pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on people of color and on low-income communities, Americans in wealthier counties have been getting vaccinated against the coronavirus at higher rates than those who live in more distressed, impoverished counties, federal health researchers reported...

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Jury convicts Salinas Valley State Prison inmate of murder

SOLEDAD — A Monterey County jury on April 23 convicted Salinas Valley State Prison inmate Miguel Angel Espino, 33, of first-degree murder in the...