COVID-19

San Benito County health officials this week hailed the recent approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children who are 5 to 11 years old. “As a parent and a physician, I know that parents, caregivers, school staff, and children have been waiting for today’s...

It’s been a roller coaster year for Bella Mia Salon owner and stylist Olga Arreola, who last week was able to reopen her shop for the first time since December.    The guidelines are just the same as the first two times: one guest per stylist...

While California K-12 students will still be required to wear masks once the state's indoor mask mandate ends this week, one of the state’s top health officials said Monday that a decision on in-school mask requirements could be made by the end of the...

San Benito County officials are reporting that the county is jumping down a tier in the Covid-19 risk level metrics, making it possible for several businesses and schools to reopen. Dr. David Ghilarducci, County interim Public Health Officer, announced on Oct. 13 that the county’s...

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors scheduled a special meeting to consider, and potentially adopt, a Covid enforcement ordinance. The board will convene on Jan. 15 at 6pm to discuss a draft ordinance that includes provisions to allow code enforcement officers, heath officers and...

In 2020, a South Valley dentist launched a donation drive of medical machines to help battle a shortage of ventilators in the Covid-19 fight. Now, Dr. Kusum Atraya is joining volunteers from around the globe to help India, which is undergoing a deadly wave of...

With recent reports that the highly contagious Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus has reached San Benito County’s neighbor to the north, authorities are reminding local residents of the importance of seeking vaccinations and booster shots, as well as taking other measures to prevent...

Errors in the state’s Covid-19 data reporting system have led to vast undercounts of both positive and negative results in counties throughout California.

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...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital announced that a second Covid-19 testing location is now available after a high demand for additional testing sites was made by the community.   Public Information Officer Frankie Gallagher issued a press release on Dec. 30 saying that the new testing site...