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A relief fund for businesses impacted by COVID-19 opened its wallet today, offering grants to mom-and-pop shops in East San Jose. It is designed for people like Thu Pham, owner of A-Plus Cleaners, who had to close her storefront for a month after contracting COVID-19 before reopening. Many of her friends who are small business...
South Bay bus drivers, VTA at odds over mask enforcement
In the wake of a new federal mask-wearing requirement, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority says it is going through hoops to ensure people cover up — but not to the satisfaction of drivers. “We don’t feel they have our backs out there,” said John Courtney, a former VTA bus driver and president of the...
Santa Clara County faith groups scramble to comply with changing COVID-19 orders
It’s been a tumultuous time for South Bay faith groups who have heard varying guidance from the federal, state and county government about whether they could worship inside. All indoor church operations are officially suspended in Santa Clara County despite recent pushback from local churches and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that suggested such a...
Following COVID-19 vaccine scandal, Good Samaritan permanently closes vaccine clinic
Good Samaritan Hospital, one of the largest medical centers in the county, is permanently closing its COVID-19 vaccine clinic, claiming that it has vaccinated all of its staff and therefore fulfilled its responsibilities. The news comes three weeks after the hospital faced backlash for allowing teachers and staff at an affluent Los Gatos school district...
New COVID-19 vaccine clinics coming to East San Jose and Gilroy
A new county map shows just how hard East San Jose and South County have been ravaged by COVID-19, prompting health leaders to launch new drop-in vaccination sites in those areas. The new map breaks down COVID-19 cases by ZIP code in the county. Each ZIP code’s cumulative case count, population, and rate per 100,000 residents...
Homeless would get COVID-19 vaccine priority, legal camp in latest San Jose proposal
Downtown San Jose Councilmember Raul Peralez was headed for dinner with his wife and son this past weekend when a homeless man threatened to “kick his ass.” “And this is (in front of) my 2-year-old kid,” he said. It’s the latest incident amid recent backlash from residents about the growth of homeless encampments in San...
New South African COVID-19 variant found in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County health officials Wednesday said two cases of a new South African COVID-19 variant have been identified in Santa Clara and Alameda counties — the first in California. So far, one case has been identified in each county, respectively. This is at least the second new strain health officials have identified in Santa...
State’s largest vaccination site opens in Santa Clara County at Levi’s Stadium
Gov. Gavin Newsom was on hand Tuesday to open the largest COVID-19 vaccination site in California at Levi’s Stadium. The site eventually will serve up to 15,000 doses a day, subject to supply, for health care workers and people 65 and older who live in Santa Clara County, regardless of their health care provider or...
‘We’re in a race against death’: South Bay legislator backs COVID-19 relief bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Calling it a “moral and economic duty,” a South Bay lawmaker is urging Congress to support an emergency legislation package that would provide $160 billion for public health efforts to fight against COVID-19. Among other provisions, the American Rescue Plan would direct $10 billion to expand the domestic manufacturing of personal protective...
Santa Clara County calls on federal government to double COVID-19 vaccine allocation
South Bay health officials are calling on the federal government to increase COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution amid a sluggish vaccine rollout that led to thousands of canceled appointments. “We’re only seeing probably less than half of the vaccine that we need at this point,” said Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County COVID-19 testing officer, at a town hall hosted by...