COVID-19

SALINAS — Northwest Laboratory will open and operate a new drive-thru Covid-19 testing site in Salinas starting March 3. “Our organization has worked closely with the communities across the U.S. since this pandemic began, providing laboratory analysis for multiple community testing programs,” said Jennifer Bull,...

CALIFORNIA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that the state is “setting our eyes on fully reopening by June 15 — with commonsense measures like masking.” Newsom made the announcement via Twitter, and reiterated the state’s plan to eventually forgo the current four-tiered,...

California is opening up eligibility for booster coronavirus vaccine shots to include anyone 18 or older, making it at least the second state to expand official eligibility beyond older adults and people in high-risk circumstances. Colorado took a similar step this week. California’s vaccination sites...

Robert Hesse was expecting an imminent promotion to manager of Sub Zero Ice Cream, a nitrogen ice cream shop in Ventura, California, when it shut down in March because of the pandemic. “I like to work,” said Hesse, a college graduate who turns 26 on...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Cal Coastal has announced additional small business loans to assist Monterey County businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. “New economic support is available for businesses in Monterey County, which are still being negatively impacted by the pandemic,” said Maia Carroll, the county’s...

GREENFIELD — Dr. Joshua Deutsch, a physician with Mee Memorial Healthcare System, recently spoke to students at Greenfield High School to encourage them to get the Covid-19 vaccination. Deutsch, who has shared his experiences of first-hand patient interaction in King City and Greenfield with Monterey...

CALIFORNIA — California surpassed 50,000 known coronavirus deaths Wednesday, the first state to reach that chilling milestone. The news comes as a bleak reminder that the recent progress the state has made against the pandemic may be fragile. Most of those deaths were recorded recently,...

MONTEREY COUNTY — An ordinance that would have required face coverings indoors countywide failed to receive enough support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors during a special meeting last week. After extensive discussion and public comment at the Sept. 8 meeting, the board voted...

MONTEREY COUNTY — After several weeks of discussion, Monterey County Board of Supervisors has approved a countywide indoor face covering ordinance that could begin in late October if certain criteria are met. Last week the Board delayed final approval of its mask mandate until Tuesday...

SALINAS VALLEY — Free pop-up Covid-19 testing sites have been emerging lately in South Monterey County as part of an effort to increase testing access after a new site was added to Castroville to the existing lineup of Salinas and Seaside. When available, local residents...