Differences between federal and local mask rules are creating confusion, frustration and in some cases hostile situations. Santa Clara County residents breathed a sigh of relief this week with the move to the least-restrictive yellow tier in California’s reopening plan, an indication that life might return to “normal” after more than a year of fear...
San Jose school districts still require masks for students
Sorry kids, but you still need to keep your masks on at school. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed mask requirements for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19, it recommends K-12 students continue to wear face coverings and keep social distancing. The CDC based this decision on students not being fully vaccinated...
Where can kids get vaccinated in Santa Clara County?
Adolescents age 12 through 15 can now receive COVID-19 vaccinations in Santa Clara County, and they don’t even need an appointment. “Everything is lined up and in place to make getting a vaccine as simple and hassle-free as possible,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 testing and vaccine officer. “We have the vaccine supply, we have...
Santa Clara County advances to yellow tier, eases COVID restrictions
Santa Clara County is easing local COVID-19 restrictions weeks before the state is set to fully reopen. County health officials Tuesday announced the move to the least-restrictive yellow tier of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The change, effective Wednesday, will allow most businesses to operate indoors with minimal modifications, including bars that don’t...
Is San Jose ready to go maskless?
New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fully vaccinated people can ditch their masks when indoors and outdoors. But local guidelines aren’t as open yet. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday he will end the state’s mask mandate on June 15, nearly a year after he first required masks in all public...
Silicon Valley congressman tackles Black maternal mortalities
Washington, D.C.—Charles Johnson said he quickly notified hospital staff when his wife’s catheter turned pink with blood. His wife, Kira Johnson, had just given birth to their second son during a scheduled cesarean section at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Staff examined his wife and ordered a CT scan, he said, but hours passed...
South Bay parents hesitant about COVID-19 vaccine for kids
Most parents in a new survey said no to immediately getting their kids vaccinated against COVID-19. The survey by Invisibly found 74% of parents will either wait or not vaccinate their kids against the coronavirus. Only 26% of parents said they will have their children inoculated right away, 41% will wait a few months and 33%...
Why one in 10 Silicon Valley residents are refusing a COVID shot
One in 10 Santa Clara County residents are refusing a COVID-19 vaccine due to fear of side effects or safety concerns, misinformation and scheduling issues—a problem that county health officials are quickly trying to ameliorate. Misinformation still persists, researchers hired by the county discovered, with 19% of county residents surveyed believing vaccines can give you...
San Jose sets new goals to vaccinate hardest-to-reach residents
San Jose officials are looking to match a lofty goal set by the county: 85% of residents vaccinated by Aug. 1. City officials on Tuesday introduced a set of priorities for the next three months, including expanding to 20 mobile vaccination sites, partnering with 10 health care providers to distribute vaccines and creating a strategy focused...
South Bay students support university system’s COVID vax requirement
Some South Bay college students have no qualms about getting a COVID-19 shot before being allowed back on campus, they told San Jose Spotlight. “All my friends are trying to get vaccinated before heading off to college for safety and convenience,” said Nolan Jeung, a San Jose student who will attend California Polytechnic State University,...