Coronavirus Archives

Dozens of low level offenders released from Central Coast jails amid COVID-19 crisis

April 14, 2020 12:12 PM Drew Andre

A California judicial court ruling temporarily eliminated bail for people arrested and charged with low-level offenses. It’s part of an effort to…

UCSC professor helps develop COVID-19 tracing app

April 13, 2020 6:06 PM Drew Andre

There is new technology that’s been developed that could be the next best way to flatten the coronavirus curve. UCSC economics professor, Kristian…

UC Santa Cruz shuttle driver tests positive for COVID-19

April 13, 2020 12:26 PM Avery Johnson, Drew Andre

UC Santa Cruz said one of its campus shuttle drivers has tested positive for…

COVID-19 discussion: Rep. Jimmy Panetta

April 12, 2020 8:16 PM Aaron Groff

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) KION Anchor Aaron Groff sat down with Congressman Jimmy Panetta for a discussion surrounding current efforts by his office,…

Salinas Valley Memorial selected for rapid result testing

April 10, 2020 9:21 PM Veronica Macias

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) It’s considered a game changer in diagnosing COVID-19 patients on the Central Coast. The rapid result test is called ID NOW…

Self-employed on Peninsula struggle to file for unemployment benefits

April 14, 2020 5:52 PM Megan Meier

It has been an ongoing battle for many Californians who are now unemployed and desperate to get an answer on pending benefits.…

Monterey County DA to enforce restrictions on construction activities

April 14, 2020 8:23 AM Mary Coleman, Elisha Machado

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) UPDATED 4/14/20 6:00 p.m. Monterey County’s shelter-in-place order hasn’t stopped construction within the county, but…

Better Ask Barry: Are grocery store employees safe?

April 14, 2020 11:27 AM Barry Brown

One month into the coronavirus lockdown, an increasing number of grocery workers are being infected with Covid…

UCSC shuttle driver is second person to die of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County

April 14, 2020 11:14 AM Avery Johnson

The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced Tuesday that a second person has died of COVID-19 in the…

Central Coast cities and counties to combine forces for federal COVID-19 funding

April 14, 2020 1:48 AM Aaron Groff

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) The federal government’s $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package, CARES Act, includes billions for local governments, but the…

San Benito County offering penalty waivers for property taxes

April 14, 2020 5:42 PM Avery Johnson

San Benito County announced that it is offering COVID-19 penalty waivers for property…

UCSC police remind community to avoid gatherings as 420 approaches

April 14, 2020 5:10 PM Avery Johnson

UC Santa Cruz police said its officers have seen gatherings on campus, despite a Shelter in Place order that is in effect, and is…

Trump halts US funding to World Health Organization

April 14, 2020 2:08 PM CNN

(CNN) President Trump announced Tuesday he is halting funding to the World Health Organization while a review is conducted. Trump said at a news…

Two members of Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office test negative for COVID-19

April 14, 2020 2:03 PM Avery Johnson

Sheriff Jim Hart tells KION that two employees with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office have tested positive for…

Monterey County creating emergency microloan fund for small businesses

April 14, 2020 3:58 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey County and Cal Coastal announced that they are teaming up to create an emergency microloan fund for local small businesses affected by…

Central Coast airports to get more than $12.8 million in federal funding

April 14, 2020 1:10 PM Avery Johnson

More than $12.8 million in federal grants are going to be distributed to airports around the Central Coast, according to Congressman Jimmy…

California governor gives outline for lifting virus closures

April 14, 2020 11:37 AM The Associated Press

Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’ll reveal plans Tuesday for gradually releasing California from the coronavirus…

Community Human Services offering outpatient drug treatment to Monterey County residents through telehealth

April 14, 2020 12:32 PM Avery Johnson

Community Human Services said it is continuing to offer outpatient drug treatment services to residents with Medi-Cal…

Businesses react to Governor Newsom’s announcement that he plans to reopen economy

April 13, 2020 11:24 AM Avery Johnson, Shannon Longworth

Governor Newsom said he is working with the governors of Oregon and Washington to announce an agreement on a vision for reopening economies and…

“It really is a disaster”: Monterey Chamber CEO offers warning and advice

April 13, 2020 7:04 PM Aaron Groff

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Restaurants and hotels in Monterey are either closed or a shell of what they were just two months ago – before the COVID-19…

Monterey County jail inmates make face masks

April 13, 2020 6:08 PM Zach McIntyre

The Monterey County jail is joining the ranks of other jails and prisons, to combat the spread of…

Monterey Bay Community Power deferring half of May and June electric generation charges

April 13, 2020 6:28 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey Bay Community Power announced that it will be deferring half of May and June electric generation charges due to…

Trump says he will ask for a delay to the 2020 census

April 13, 2020 2:02 PM CNN

(CNN) President Trump said he will ask for a “major delay” to the 2020 Census to make sure it is completed safely and accurately. “During this…

California orders insurance premium refunds during outbreak

April 13, 2020 4:55 PM The Associated Press

California’s insurance commissioner has ordered some companies to refund premiums for March and April because of the coronavirus pandemic.…

City of Santa Cruz limits third-party delivery company commissions

April 13, 2020 3:33 PM Avery Johnson

The City of Santa Cruz said it is placing a temporary limit on commissions charged by third-party food delivery…

Monterey Bay Aquarium closed because of the Coronavirus

March 12, 2020 5:37 PM Ron Keller

MONTEREY (Calif.) The Monterey Bay Aquarium has decided to join a rapidly growing number of venues and events to temporarily close in the face of the…

Caltrans issuing special permits for overweight trucks carrying COVID-19 response supplies

April 13, 2020 2:47 PM Avery Johnson

Caltrans said it will temporarily issue special permits for overweight trucks carrying emergency supplies for COVID-19…

Seaside restaurant offers free meals on Easter Sunday

April 12, 2020 5:25 PM Megan Meier

Michelle Brooks is used to cooking a full spread on Easter, but this Sunday she fed more than just her family.…

Central Coast churches offering online Easter services

April 10, 2020 3:09 PM KION546 News Team

With Shelter in Place orders in effect in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, churches are not able to meet in person this…

Animal shelters cut back on services and search for foster families

April 11, 2020 5:31 PM Megan Meier

Kennels once filled with dozens of cats and dogs are now nearly empty. Monterey County residents showed they were willing to step up and help by…

Free mask giveaway quickly depletes in Salinas

April 10, 2020 10:37 PM Josh Kristianto

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A giveaway frenzy in Salinas on Friday shows just how much masks are in demand right now amid the COVID-19 pandemic affecting…

Learn the “dos and dont’s” of wearing a protective mask plus mask giveaway

April 10, 2020 7:47 PM Veronica Macias

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) On Friday Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula released a video demonstrating how to correctly put on a mask.…

Better Ask Barry: Don’t forget proper nutrition during pandemic

April 10, 2020 8:54 AM Barry Brown

There may be a way to help protect yourself against the coronavirus that doesn’t involve a vaccine. Nutritionists like Risa Groux suggests a variety…

Santa Cruz Sheriff’s deputy comes out of retirement to help enforce shelter-in-place

April 10, 2020 1:51 PM Drew Andre

A team of about a dozen sheriff’s deputies were tasked to patrol Santa Cruz counties unincorporated coastal area to enforce the shelter-in-place…

Officers report decrease in traffic, increase in speed

April 10, 2020 5:46 PM Megan Meier

While the majority of cars are staying parked at home, a small percentage are still hitting the road.…

“Victory Gardens,” are making a comeback

April 10, 2020 6:55 PM Veronica Macias

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) During this coronavirus pandemic, medical experts are stressing the importance of eating healthy and people are truly fearful…

Everyone entering Presidio of Monterey required to have mask

April 10, 2020 5:14 PM Avery Johnson

Starting Friday morning, everyone who enters the Presidio of Monterey must have a face…

Santa Cruz County provides update on COVID-19 response

April 9, 2020 10:03 AM Avery Johnson, Drew Andre

Dr. Gail Newel with Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency is holding a press conference Thursday morning to provide an update on the county’s…

Central Coast colleges and universities getting funding to help students affected by COVID-19

April 10, 2020 4:48 PM Avery Johnson

Several colleges and universities around the Central Coast will be receiving federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic…

Non-essential businesses close after Shelter in Place enforcement begins in San Benito County

April 8, 2020 1:48 PM Avery Johnson

San Benito County, the City of Hollister and the City of San Juan Bautista are investigating complaints about non-essential…

Monterey County Health Officer orders all laboratories to report COVID-19 test results

April 10, 2020 4:17 PM Avery Johnson

The Monterey County Health Officer has issued an order that all laboratories conducting COVID-19 testing should report all…

Governor Newsom provides update on State’s COVID-19 response

April 10, 2020 11:59 AM Avery Johnson

California Governor Gavin Newsom is giving his daily update on the State’s response to…

Engineers make masks for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital staff

April 10, 2020 12:52 PM Avery Johnson

Engineers have stepped up to help keep local hospital staff safe during the COVID-19…

Fauci: US should not “be pulling back at all” when it comes to coronavirus mitigation

April 10, 2020 10:57 AM CNN

(CNN) Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci commended the steps Americans are taking to socially distance but warned that the country as a…

Salinas Warming Shelter gets new shower trailer

April 10, 2020 11:32 AM Avery Johnson

As the COVID-19 pandemic grew, the Salinas Warming Shelter expanded its hours, but now people sheltering in place…

Chinese parents from Stevenson School host several free mask giveaways

April 9, 2020 5:47 PM Avery Johnson

The Salinas Police Department announced that it will be working with Chinese parents at Stevenson School to give free masks to the…

Construction companies address worksite concerns over COVID-19

April 10, 2020 8:35 AM Jocelyn Ortega

Construction companies address essential and non-essential…

Point Lobos, Pfeiffer Big Sur among parks now closed until at least May 3rd

April 9, 2020 5:07 PM Mary Coleman, Josh Kristianto

The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced Thursday multiple state parks along Highway 1 in the Central Coast are closing over the…

Monterey prepares to close parks and beaches if necessary

April 9, 2020 6:06 PM Megan Meier

Monterey resident, Cort Elmgren, was put on furlough a few weeks ago, but one thing that hasn’t changed is his daily walk on the beach.…

California to provide hotel rooms to front-line health care workers

April 9, 2020 11:46 AM Avery Johnson

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