COVID-19

A tense meeting that drew many opponents of a proposed vaccination policy for county employees digressed into a shouting match after Supervisor Bea Gonzales ordered the chambers to clear following repeated interruptions from audience members. Sheriff’s deputies escorted some members of the public out of...

The San Benito County Free Library is closed until next week because a group of protesters refused to wear face coverings inside the building, in violation of state law, according to county officials. The unmasked protesters entered the library, 470 Fifth Street, on the morning...

From academics to pandemics, California teenagers are seeking out more help from friends, parents and teachers to cope with their situation, according to a survey released Thursday by Blue Shield of California.  Between July and August, Blue Shield of California asked 500 California students aged...

Coming off the heels of a Covid-19 outbreak within the Hollister Fire Department, interim San Benito County Public Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci issued a new vaccination order for public safety workers on Wednesday morning.  It states that all San Benito County, City of Hollister...

Federal authorities have approved a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines for certain immunocompromised individuals. As a result, San Benito County Public Health Services is recommending that local medical providers use updated guidance from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister has re-implemented protective measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 cases within the community. “While we understand that some of these measures may be an inconvenience,  our top priority continues to be the health and safety of our patients,...

San Benito County officials will pay tribute to local residents who died from Covid-19 with a “White Flag” ceremony on Sept. 24. The tribute will take place 11am in front of the county administration office, located at 481 Fourth Street. County officials will place one white...

K-12 teachers across California will be required to prove their full vaccination status against Covid-19 by mid-October or be subject to weekly testing, state officials announced Wednesday.  The requirement via public health order from the California Department of Public Health will take effect Thursday, according...

Low-income Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal have been vaccinated at far lower rates than the overall population in all 58 counties, according to state data. The disparity reveals a strong economic divide between the vaccinated and unvaccinated throughout California. About 45% of Medi-Cal enrollees eligible for the...

The California Department of Public Health formally recommended Wednesday that state residents resume wearing a face covering indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. The recommendation comes one day after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued similar guidance for people who live in...