Latest News

Press Releases

September 2020

• 9/16/20Santa Cruz County Reports an 8th COVID-19 Related Death
• 9/8/20Santa Cruz County Moves to Red Tier
• 9/2/20Reminder: Labor Day Beach Closures
• 9/1/20Small Business, Non-Profit Covid-19 Grants Available
• 9/1/20Rent and Utility Support Available Due to Covid-19 Impacts

August 2020 (click to view)

• 8/28/20Governor Releases New Framework for Reopening
• 8/19/20Santa Cruz County, Family Health Unit AWARDED $172,074.60 ACEs Aware Grant
• 8/18/20Labor Day Weekend Beach Closures
• 8/17/20County Removed from Data Monitoring List
• 8/14/20Santa Cruz County Reports Four COVID-19 Related Deaths
• 8/7/20Face Covering Sign Available for Download
• 8/7/20County, UCSC Partner to Further Expand Covid-19 Testing
• 8/4/20Urgency Ordinance for Health Order Violations Passes
• 8/3/20Blue Check Sign Program Launches

July 2020 (click to view)

• 7/27/20Santa Cruz County Placed on Monitoring List
• 7/27/20Covid-19 Employer Toolkit Available
• 7/20/20Salvation Army Shelter Temporarily Closed
• 7/14/20Santa Cruz County Friday Night Live (FNL) Youth in Action Summit (YAS) Virtual Event and Summer Internship
• 7/13/20California Closes Indoor Activities
• 7/13/20Virtual Conference Discusses Latinx COVID-19 Impacts
• 7/10/20Great Plates Delivered Extended

June 2020 (click to view)

• 6/25/20County Announces Third COVID-19 Death
• 6/19/20"Screaming Hand" Safety Signage Available
• 6/15/20Expanded Personal Care Services May Resume Friday
• 6/10/20Great Plates Delivered Extended
• 6/9/20Revised Health Order Removes Lodging Restrictions
• 6/5/20Great Plates Vendors Announced, Extension Sought
• 6/2/20Restaurants and Businesses Given Outdoor Options
• 6/1/20Limited In-Person County Services Resume

May 2020 (click to view)

• 5/30/20County Restaurants, Hair Salons May Resume Services
• 5/29/20Board Approves Application to Move into Late Stage 2
• 5/27/20Special Board Meeting
• 5/26/20New Health Order Allows Certain Activities to Resume
• 5/22/20Public Health Monitoring Covid-19 Clusters
• 5/21/20SAVE Lives Santa Cruz County Launches Website
• 5/15/20Advisory on Local Business and Other Activities
• 5/9/20Save Lives Economic Recovery Council Announced
• 5/7/20Watsonville Specimen Collection Site to Launch
• 5/6/20Health Officer to Amend Shelter-In-Place Order
• 5/5/20 County Seeks Vendors for Great Plates Program

April 2020 (click to view)

• 4/30/20 Health Officer Allows Certain Activities to Resume
• 4/29/20 Additional Beach Activity Limits During Peak Hours
• 4/29/20 County Announces COVID-19 Community Recovery Efforts
• 4/28/20 Hotel Rooms Available for Local Health Care Workers
• 4/24/20 Limited Beach Access
• 4/23/20 County Completes COVID-19 Readiness Assessment of Skilled Nursing Facilities
• 4/23/20 Face Coverings Order Available
• 4/21/20 Health Officer to Issue Face Covering Order
• 4/14/20 County Confirms second death from COVID-19
• 4/9/20 Religious Observances During the Shelter in Place Order
• 4/7/20 Parks and beaches to be temporarily closed throughout Santa Cruz County
  - Read the Order
• 4/6/20 County Identifies Alternate Care Sites
• 4/3/20 New Public Health Information on Facial Coverings
• 4/2/20 Recreation opportunities during COVID-19
• 4/2/20 Vacation rentals must comply with shelter-in-place order
• 4/1/20 Current COVID-19 Santa Cruz County Case Breakdown
• 4/1/20 Task force to address homelessness COVID-19 response

March 2020 (click to view)

• 3/30/20 COVID-19 tax penalty waiver form available
• 3/29/20 County Confirms First Death From COVID-19
  PRESS CONFERENCE
• 3/26/20 County Parks Friends launches virtual children’s activities
• 3/26/20 County Seeks PPE Donations
• 3/25/20 ORDER TO ALL LABORATORIES TO REPORT ALL COVID-19 TEST INFORMATION
• 3/24/20 Board Enacts Temporary Eviction Moratorium
• 3/23/20 County Releases PPE Stockpile to Local Health Care Facilities
• 3/23/20 County Board Meeting to Comply With Social Distancing
• 3/23/20 Guidance for Distribution of Scarce Resources (including PPE)
• 3/23/20 Avoid Crowding at Santa Cruz Beaches, Travelers Advised to Stay Home
• 3/22/20 County Releases Guidance for Homeless Services Providers
• 3/20/20 RESIDENTIAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ORDER TO RESTRICT ACCESS BY ALL NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONS
  English Español   What does this restriction mean?  English Español

Press Conferences and Media

• 8/5/20 Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, and Health Services Director Mimi Hall
• 7/23/20 Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 6/25/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel and Chief of Public Health Jen Herrera
• 6/11/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 5/28/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 5/21/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 5/14/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
    - Slides from 5/14/20 Press Conference
• 5/7/20 Press Briefing: Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
    - Slides from 5/7/20 Press Conference
• 4/30/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 4/23/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 4/16/20 Press Briefing: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 4/14/20 Board of Supervisors Status Update: Health Services Director Mimi Hall
• 4/9/20 Press Conference: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 4/2/20 Press Conference: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel, Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci
• 4/1/20 Town Hall with Supervisor John Leopold and Emergency Services Manager Rosemary Anderson
• 3/29/20 Press Conference: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel conducted a press conference announcing the first death from COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County
• 3/17/20 Press Conference:Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel conducted a press conference announcing the current status of the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak
• 3/13/20 Press Conference: Santa Cruz County Health Services Director Mimi Hall and Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel offer the latest coronavirus update at the Santa Cruz Health Center
• 3/11/20 Update and QA with Supervisor John Leopold and health Services Agency Director Mimi Hall
• 3/9/20 Press Conference: Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci and HSA Director Mimi Hall present the current status of the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak
• 3/7/20 Press Conference: Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel and HSA Director Mimi Hall present the current status of the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak