COVID-19

The U.S. job market remains challenging, with the government reporting Thursday that initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose last week. A total of 741,000 workers filed first-time claims for state jobless benefits last week, an increase of 18,000, the Labor Department said. It was...

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 — Covid-19 pandemic restrictions for businesses in Monterey County ended on June 15, but County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said state guidelines remain in effect and businesses need to become familiar with guidance from CalOSHA. Moreno advised residents to remain vigilant about...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Health Department’s Public Health Bureau has launched an updated Covid-19 data dashboard to further improve accessibility to data for residents and stakeholders. The dashboard displays data on Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, fatalities and outbreaks, as well as community testing and vaccination...

MONTEREY COUNTY — A new Covid-19 variant has been detected in several California counties, including Monterey County, according to the California Department of Public Health. CDPH announced Jan. 17 that a 452R variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, was identified using genetic sequencing...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Frontline Workers Counseling Project (FWCP), a San Francisco-based nonprofit that pairs frontline and essential workers with private-practice therapists for pro bono counseling services, is expanding its service area to Monterey County. FWCP, formerly called the Covid-19 Pro Bono Counseling Project, was created...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Hospitals in Monterey County have implemented new restrictions on visitors to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 to staff and patients. Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 11, all visitors to area hospitals will be required to show either proof of full Covid-19 vaccination or proof...

KING CITY — King City High School athletes paraded down Broadway Street as part of a student-organized homecoming caravan on March 24. The pandemic shutdowns meant alterations to sports programs and the year’s activities, but the adjusted KCHS homecoming in February also came with a...

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...

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...