Santa Clara County businesses that violate COVID-19 safety protocols over Thanksgiving weekend will face immediate fines as health officials struggle to control the spread of COVID-19. Unlike before, businesses will have no grace period to fix the violation if they are cited Nov. 26 to Nov. 29. Individual fines range from $250 to more than...
Court employees say COVID-19 exposure and lax rules put them at risk in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Superior Court employees say they’re not being protected from COVID-19, and they fear for their health and safety every day they go to work. Court employees are exposed to COVID-19 on an almost weekly basis. Safety concerns voiced by workers are routinely ignored. Mask wearing is not rigorously enforced. Those are some...
Local artist partners with San Jose brewery amid COVID-19 pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic first swept through the Bay Area, San Jose native Justin Engel experienced a series of unexpected setbacks. Within a few weeks of the shelter in place order in March, the 42-year-old father of two took a 20% pay cut at his day job as a technical writer, was forced to leave...
What you need to know about COVID-19 this week in the South Bay
COVID-19 cases are surging dramatically in Santa Clara County and as the holiday season rapidly approaches, the county is ramping up testing and urging residents to avoid large gatherings outside their households. According to county officials, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients increased by more than 50 percent in one week. There were 110 hospitalizations...
What the state’s COVID-19 curfew means for Santa Clara County
Despite a state-ordered curfew to curb COVID-19 spread starting this weekend, restaurants in Santa Clara County can stay open for takeout and people can still go out for walks. The only condition? Avoid contact with people from other households. When the overnight curfew ordered by the state starts at 10 p.m. on Nov. 21, it...
San Jose hospital pleads for donations to help with COVID-19 surge
As COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the South Bay, hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demand for resources. San Jose-based Valley Medical Center Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center hospital system, is pleading with charities across the valley for donations to help deal with the pandemic. Foundation...
UPDATE: Santa Clara County to look into COVID-19 workplace safety
Maria Ruiz said she lost her job at a San Jose McDonald’s this summer after reporting her employer for COVID-19 violations and refusing to work in unsafe conditions. Many others also have lost their jobs, faced harassment or suffered in silence as their employers continue to ignore health and safety guidelines every day, according to...
Minority-owned businesses having hardest time paying rent, poll finds
Justen Torres had a big vision this year: Build Get Away Games & Media, a place where players are trapped in a themed room, solving clues and puzzles before they can get out. “Escape rooms are getting popular here because it is a new way for friends, family and co-workers to bond and build relationships,”...
Santa Clara County moves to COVID-19 purple tier — most restrictive
With COVID-19 case counts rising across the state, Santa Clara County is moving back to California’s purple tier, the most restrictive. The county recorded 388 new positive COVID-19 cases in a single day on Nov. 16 and now has a total of 28,686 cases and 445 deaths. “This is a high number,” County Health Officer...
Santa Clara County COVID-19 cases double, indoor dining to halt
After seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, Santa Clara County officials announced they are rolling back indoor activities and likely moving back into the stricter red tier. Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said the county has recorded 362 new cases within one day on Nov. 13 and has at least 110...