COVID-19

As of Dec. 10, San Benito County Public Health officials have reported 2,314 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the county, which is an increase of 385 cases reported since the start of this month. The local death count remains at 19, according...

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds in the United States, a crucial step in the nation’s steady recovery from the pandemic and a boon to millions of American families eager for a...

As the county and state continue to experience an unprecedented surge in demand for Covid-19 testing, San Benito County officials this week sent out a lengthy informational update in recognition of limited test availability and longer-than-expected testing turnaround times.  “We understand the challenges these issues...

San Benito County, the City of Hollister and other local jurisdictions are in the process of figuring out how to spend more than $20 million they expect to receive from the American Rescue Plan, a massive federal stimulus program approved earlier this year to...

By Tony Nuñez The state revealed a new, more “stringent” four-tiered reopening system that will allow counties to begin opening their economies depending on their Covid-19 case and test positivity rates. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 28 announced the new system–effective Aug. 31– that replaces the...

Two state assemblymembers on Tuesday announced a new $3 billion bond measure that aims to spur Covid-19 economic recovery while combating climate change and food insecurity.  Assemblymembers Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, announced Assembly Bill 125—the Equitable Economic Recovery, Healthy Food Access,...

San Benito Street was shut down for more than two weeks as it went through some major beautification upgrades to help revitalize downtown Hollister. Yet, there was some uncertainty whether or not a new parklet project would work out for local business owners.   Carlos Hernandez,...

Transmission of the flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus is increasing statewide simultaneously and could lead to overwhelmed hospitals this winter, one of the state's top health officials said Thursday. Covid test positivity and case rates have climbed by roughly 25% over the last two...

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently expanded the eligibility of Covid-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older, San Benito County health officials advised in a press release. Specifically, the CDC recommends that children ages 5-11...

San Benito County has seen a huge jump of Covid-19 cases since the end of July. Public Health Services say a lot of it stems from residents continuing to host and attend private gatherings without practicing social distancing.   Public health officials on Aug. 27 issued...