COVID-19

Santa Clara County on Sept. 16 expanded its existing Covid-19 testing order to tighten up requirements for large-scale healthcare providers to ensure testing is more easily available, without delays to all residents.

The mayors of Morgan Hill, Gilroy and 14 other cities signed a letter asking Santa Clara County officials to substantially increase COVID-19 testing capacities before reopening communities to normal business.

Deaths from fentanyl, a powerful opioid drug, are drastically on the rise in Santa Clara County this year, and public health officials think stress and anxiety resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic might be contributing to the increase.

Healthcare workers and others in “high-risk” settings must receive their Covid-19 vaccination booster by Jan. 24, the Santa Clara County health officer announced Dec. 28. Under the new local health order, workers must be up-to-date on their vaccination (both fully vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19...

With the Covid-19 vaccine making its way through the local population and case rates and hospitalizations declining, Santa Clara County officials expect the state to loosen its public gathering guidelines by next week. And on Feb. 25, Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody announced a...

With three out of four Santa Clara County residents ages 12 and older fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the Gilroy High School vaccination site closed on July 7. Appointments will now take place at Valley Health Center Gilroy.  Santa Clara County’s mass vaccination sites have been closing...

The Supreme Court late Friday lifted California’s restrictions on religious gatherings in private homes, saying they could not be enforced to bar prayer meetings, Bible study classes and the like. The court’s brief, unsigned order followed earlier ones striking down limits on attendance at...

California public health officials updated the state's guidance for places of worship and cultural ceremonies Monday, removing capacity limits for both indoor and outdoor gatherings.  Since unveiling the tiered Covid-19 reopening system late last August, the state has faced pushback from religious groups and advocates...

The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce is leading a charge of business owners who are petitioning the county to reopen establishments shuttered by the Covid-19 shelter-in-place order. Santa Clara County, meanwhile, loosened some restrictions on its order May 18 that allows stores to offer curbside pickup. On...

By Eli Walsh, Bay City News Foundation Outdoor youth sports will soon be allowed to resume in California counties that meet a threshold for coronavirus cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday. Outdoor sports like football and baseball will be allowed to resume as early as next...