Coronavirus Archives

County Officials: Santa Cruz County to extend Shelter in Place order

April 27, 2020 1:52 PM Avery Johnson

County Supervisor John Leopold and Communications Manager Jason Hoppin tell KION that a new Shelter in Place order will be announced later this…

Several Bay Area counties to extend, revise Shelter in Place orders

April 27, 2020 12:10 PM Avery Johnson

Public health officers in several Bay area counties and the City of Berkeley said they will issue revised Shelter in Place this week and extend them…

Newsom: Changes to coronavirus orders may come within weeks

April 27, 2020 11:45 AM The Associated Press

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state may be just weeks away from “meaningful changes” to its stay-at-home order that took effect March 19.…

County officials: 25% of COVID-19 cases in Monterey County come from agriculture industry

April 24, 2020 1:29 PM Avery Johnson, Josh Kristianto

UPDATE 4/24/2020 10:30 p.m. Dozens of agricultural workers in Monterey County have been infected with COVID-19, according to county officials on…

Farms face unknowns as buyers cancel orders

April 24, 2020 6:44 PM Megan Meier

There is nothing like the taste of a fresh picked strawberry in the springtime. They are grown organically at JSM Organics in Royal Oaks and there…

Neighbors say open beach parking lots in Santa Cruz County are bringing in out-of-towners

April 24, 2020 3:38 PM Drew Andre

All beaches are open in Santa Cruz County. However, not all parking lots near beaches and parks are open to the public.…

Central Coast ERs seeing downturn amid COVID-19 fears

April 23, 2020 10:47 PM Josh Kristianto

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A Central Coast resident has died after suffering a heart attack and not going to the emergency room for treatment, according…

County looking for volunteers as it prepares to open Marina alternate care site

April 24, 2020 6:17 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey County is preparing to open a COVID-19 alternate care site in Marina, and it is looking for volunteers for a variety of…

Monterey County Health Officer says short-term lodging can stay open, but limitations in place

April 24, 2020 5:50 PM Avery Johnson

The Monterey County Health Officer has issued an order clarifying limitations for short-term lodging while a Shelter in Place order is in…

San Benito County amends Shelter in Place order to allow county parks, city parks, golf courses to open

April 24, 2020 4:45 PM Avery Johnson

San Benito County Public Health Officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib has amended his Shelter in Place order to allow the public to…

San Benito County supervisors host virtual town hall to discuss business resources

April 24, 2020 2:51 PM Avery Johnson

San Benito County supervisors Jim Gillio and Peter Hernandez are hosting a virtual town hall Friday…

Governor Newsom announces food delivery, emotional support initiative for seniors

April 24, 2020 11:49 AM Avery Johnson

Governor Gavin Newsom announced in a news conference Friday that he launching an initiative to help seniors isolating during the state’s stay at home…

Bridge Home Health and Hospice organizes caravan to thank healthcare workers

April 24, 2020 1:02 PM Avery Johnson

A group was out thanking Salinas healthcare workers and shared a video of the…

Restaurants find creative ways to continue to serve community

April 23, 2020 6:28 PM Megan Meier

Businesses on the Monterey Peninsula are finding new ways to continue to serve the community and keep their doors…

California won’t force 10-cent grocery bag charge amid virus

April 24, 2020 11:00 AM The Associated Press

California grocery and retail stores won’t be required to charge 10 cents per bag, and they can again hand out thinner, single-use plastic…

Santa Cruz County deputies help elderly woman running low on supplies

April 24, 2020 10:58 AM Avery Johnson

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office shared how two of its deputies were able to help a member of the community…

Trump signs $484 billion measure to aid employers, hospitals

April 24, 2020 10:01 AM The Associated Press

President Donald Trump has signed a $484 billion bill that aids employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic.…

Officials in San Benito County hold face covering distribution event

April 23, 2020 5:24 PM Avery Johnson

San Benito County and the City of Hollister are working with the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce to hold a face covering…

Somber Congress delivers nearly $500B more in virus aid

April 23, 2020 3:26 PM The Associated Press

Congress has delivered a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending, almost unanimously rushing new relief to employers and…

Santa Cruz County hiring temporary positions

April 23, 2020 12:13 PM Avery Johnson

Santa Cruz County is hiring several temporary disaster service worker positions during the COVID-19…

Governor Newsom provides update on California’s response to COVID-19

April 23, 2020 11:46 AM Avery Johnson

California Governor Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s response to COVID-19…

More cancellations for Monterey Car Week “sobering news” for city

April 23, 2020 11:45 AM Mary Coleman, Megan Meier

When the world’s hottest cars come to the Monterey Peninsula, so do the people. Thousands visit the area and bring business to locally owned shops…

Mascot and signs support San Benito High School seniors

April 22, 2020 10:50 PM Aaron Groff

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) The coronavirus pandemic has meant a senior year that is anything but normal for students preparing to graduate high school.…

UCSC costume shop employees turn to making masks while theater is closed

April 23, 2020 11:10 AM Avery Johnson

The theater at UC Santa Cruz is closed during the county’s Shelter in Place, but costume shop employees are still hard at…

Santa Cruz County officials provide update on COVID-19 response

April 23, 2020 10:09 AM Avery Johnson

Santa Cruz County officials are providing an update Thursday on the county’s response to…

Young Santa Cruz artist uses talent to raise funds for COVID-19 relief

April 23, 2020 6:16 AM Jocelyn Ortega

Lilian Kaemmerling, 12, was first recognized after joining a movement to donate COVID-19 themed artwork to local hospitals across Santa Cruz and…

2020 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance canceled

April 22, 2020 8:46 PM Aaron Groff

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (KION) The 2020 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the latest major Central Coast event to be canceled during the COVID-19…

Teachers surprise staff with car parade in Santa Cruz

April 22, 2020 8:57 PM Veronica Macias

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) It’s been more than a month since schools shut down. On Wednesday morning, teachers at Del Mar Elementary School, of the…

No date to ease California restrictions, but increased testing announced

April 22, 2020 7:00 PM Aaron Groff

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION) California Governor Gavin Newsom says the state needs to greatly increase its COVID-19 testing and tracing abilities in…

Schools brainstorm ways to celebrate seniors

April 22, 2020 6:19 PM Megan Meier

A simple senior rite of passage turned emotional on Wednesday.…

Better Ask Barry: Food delivery services offer convenience

April 22, 2020 10:43 AM Barry Brown

As sheltering in place continues across the country, preparing every meal at home has become a…

PG hotels stay open to pay workers, serve essential workers

April 22, 2020 5:51 PM Josh Kristianto

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION) Some hotels in Pacific Grove are staying open amid the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders to keep their employees from…

CDC director clarifies comments about the second wave of coronavirus in the US

April 22, 2020 2:21 PM CNN

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarified comments he made to the Washington Post about how the second coronavirus…

Drive-thru food distribution scheduled in Soledad this week

April 22, 2020 4:39 PM Avery Johnson

A drive-thru food distribution is set to take place in Soledad Friday…

Tanimura & Antle says employee tested positive for COVID-19

April 22, 2020 3:50 PM Avery Johnson, Shannon Longworth

Produce company Tanimura & Antle tells KION that one of its employees has tested positive for…

Sand City hazardous material cleanup company offers to disinfect city, first responder vehicles for free

April 15, 2020 12:54 PM Avery Johnson

Disaster Kleenup Specialists, a Sand City company that does restoration and hazardous material cleanup, is offering to wipe down and apply…

Republic Services supports local businesses while recognizing frontline employees

April 22, 2020 3:00 PM Avery Johnson

Republic Services announced a new “Committed to Serve” initiative to recognize frontline employees while also helping local…

California to resume scheduled surgeries amid outbreak

April 22, 2020 11:42 AM The Associated Press

California Governor Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s response to…

Big Fix to host pet food pantry in Salinas

April 22, 2020 2:10 PM Avery Johnson

The Big Fix Monterey County, a mobile low-cost spay and neuter clinic, is holding a pet food pantry in…

Police: Suspected gang members cited for gathering in Salinas during Shelter in Place

April 22, 2020 11:51 AM Avery Johnson

Several suspected Norteno gang members from Salinas and Gonzales were cited Tuesday after police said they were gathering while a Shelter in Place…

Marina approves loans for residents and businesses impacted by COVID-19

April 22, 2020 5:11 AM Jocelyn Ortega

MARINA, Calif. (KION) Help is on the way for some residents and businesses in Marina to ease financial stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

Santa Cruz small businesses struggle to find loans to stay afloat during COVID-19 pandemic

April 21, 2020 1:11 PM Drew Andre

Small businesses closed or operating with lesser services during the current shelter-in-place has caused many to look for loans to get their business…

Monterey lab offers COVID-19 antibody tests to public

April 20, 2020 5:28 PM Avery Johnson, Elisha Machado

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is now offering COVID-19 antibody tests to the…

Schools provide support for students facing stress at home

April 21, 2020 1:59 PM Megan Meier

Salinas mom, Grissel Oros, admitted transitioning her child to online learning has been all but easy. “We’re not used to being so hands on with our…

South Monterey County Town Hall on COVID-19

April 21, 2020 6:14 PM Victor Guzman

Monterey County officials are hosting a town hall updating south county residents about efforts to provide relief during the COVID-19…

Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation delivers 5,000 masks to at-risk population

April 21, 2020 2:09 PM KION546 News Team

Thanks to the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation, 5,000 masks were delivered to various organizations to help protect frontline volunteers…

Governor Gavin Newsom provides a live update on the state’s COVID-19 response

April 21, 2020 12:18 PM KION546 News Team

(KION) California Governor Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19…

Santa Cruz County Health Officer issues order to wear face coverings

April 21, 2020 11:49 AM KION546 News Team

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) UPDATE 4/23/2020 1:40 p.m. Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel has issued an order directing residents to wear…

Salinas skilled nursing facility reports COVID-19 cases among staff, patients

April 18, 2020 7:48 PM Elisha Machado

New data from the California Department of Public Health indicates that a at least one staff member and patient at a Salinas skilled nursing facility…

Fourth COVID-19 death reported in Monterey County

April 19, 2020 3:55 PM Elisha Machado

A fourth person has died from COVID-19 in Monterey County, according to new data from the county’s Health Department…