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December 20, 2025

Monterey County endures Covid-19 vaccine shortfall

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County’s Covid-19 vaccination plan is not going quickly at all, and if things remain as they are with low weekly shipments, it could take until September 2023 to vaccinate 80% of adults in the county.  Such trickle availability has caused the...

FEMA program offers relief for Covid-related funeral expenses

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County residents can apply for financial help to cover funeral expenses through FEMA’s Covid-19 Funeral Assistance Program, which began accepting applications Monday. As of April 14, Monterey County has lost 348 residents to Covid-19. ā€œFor those families who have lost a loved...

What can reopen in California’s red tier?

CALIFORNIA — Coronavirus cases have continued to recede. President Joe Biden said that there will be enough vaccine available for all U.S. adults by the end of May, sooner than previously expected, because of a deal with Johnson & Johnson to boost supply. More...

State’s indoor mask mandate to expire for most vaccinated residents

CALIFORNIA — California will roll back its mask requirement next week for vaccinated residents in most indoor spaces, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. The state implemented the mandate in mid-December as COVID-19 cases began to spike due to the highly infectious omicron variant, requiring residents...

Monterey County misses marks to move to fewer Covid-19 restrictions

Covid-19, novel coronavirus 2019
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 continues to prioritize elderly residents in Covid-19 vaccine distribution

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County officials continue to prioritize the elderly with Covid-19 vaccinations as allocations of doses remain low. ā€œThe amount of vaccine that comes to Monterey County from the state has not increased,ā€ said County Supervisor Mary Adams during a press briefing Feb....

Covid-19 relief funds available for small businesses in Monterey County

MONTEREY COUNTY — Federal, state and county agencies, including Cal Coastal, continue to offer assistance to local businesses, with two new programs having recently begun to help them bounce back from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cindy Merzon, director of Cal Coastal’s Small Business...

Microbusiness Covid-19 relief grants available in Monterey County

MONTEREY COUNTY — In order to support small businesses facing financial impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Monterey County Workforce Development Board, in partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, has established the Covid-19 Microbusiness Grant fund. The fund will provide grants to eligible...

Monterey County health experts address vaccine hesitancy as state launches incentive program

MONTEREY COUNTY — Medical professionals from area hospitals discussed progress toward quelling the Covid-19 pandemic during Monterey County’s press briefing last week. Among the guest speakers at the May 19 briefing was family practice physician Dr. Joshua Deutsch from Mee Memorial Healthcare System, who spoke...

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...

Local News

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office investigation

Deputy involved in shooting of suspect armed with rifle in Soledad

SOLEDAD — In the early morning hours of Dec. 16, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were dispatched to a report of a suspicious...