Phu Tran’s death came as no surprise to his family. The 80-year-old Milpitas resident had dementia and was in poor health. What the family couldn’t anticipate was that his death would come in the middle of a pandemic that would limit how they could be there for each other in this somber time. Tran, a...
Bracing for COVID-19 surge, Santa Clara County mandates medical supply reporting
Anyone who has a large cache of medical protective equipment, like gloves, goggles and masks, should make an inventory list now because Santa Clara County officials are taking a tally. Businesses and people are required to report by April 15 to the county if they have a ventilator in any condition or more than 5,000...
Coronavirus LIVE BLOG: March 26 to April 8
Catch up on our current Coronavirus LIVE BLOG here. 5:30 p.m. April 8: Second inmate tests positive for COVID-19 The San Jose Police Department has confirmed a second inmate has tested positive for the fast-spreading coronavirus, though the first has already recovered and is no longer in custody. This time, a 25-year-old homeless man was...
San Jose fire academy trains recruits to respond to COVID-19 outbreak
Despite the deadly coronavirus infecting more than a dozen fire officials, the San Jose Fire Department has filled its latest training academy with nearly twice as many firefighter recruits to help the COVID-19 response — albeit with face masks and physical distancing. The fire training academy, which began in late March, has 24 fire recruits...
San Jose strikes down proposal to suspend rent, citing constitutional concerns
A contentious proposal to suspend rent for three months for families who are struggling to make rent due to coronavirus was struck down by San Jose’s attorney at a virtual City Council meeting Tuesday, concerned the policy violated the Constitution. City Attorney Rick Doyle said the city would be on the hook for the forgiven rent...
Staying at home has ‘bent the curve’ on COVID-19, but residents deal with ripple effects
Health officials say the shelter in place order effective the past three weeks is working, but none can predict when life might return to normal as the economic and health effects of the restrictions ripple through the region. Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s top health official, on Tuesday told county leaders that the health...
Nurses in Santa Clara County feel betrayed as they work the frontlines of the pandemic
Nurses in Santa Clara County aren’t being adequately protected as they put themselves in harm’s way to treat the public during the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to 11 medical professionals working at local hospitals interviewed by San José Spotlight. There isn’t enough protective equipment or, in many hospitals, adequate training on how to safely reuse...
Santa Clara City Council extends renter protections, delays Pruneridge traffic plan
Santa Clara renters are now protected from evictions through May 28 if they’re unable to pay rent due to financial strain caused by COVID-19. After the City Council adopted an urgency ordinance two weeks ago, state and countywide eviction moratoriums were also approved, leading Santa Clara leaders to approve an adjusted timeline to avoid confusion...
San Jose struggles to clean up illegal dumpsites in wake of coronavirus
Despite a years-long effort to reduce blight, graffiti and trash, San Jose has been forced to scale back on its resources to clean the city’s streets, spurred by the COVID-19 quarantine. The city in recent years has beefed up its efforts to reduce blight, aided by a new app that allows residents to report where trash...
Santa Clara County could move to all-mail election due to coronavirus
As the coronavirus crisis has upended the lives of people across the nation, Santa Clara County seeks to protect the most sacred right of every American: Voting. That means the county could move to voting entirely by mail in the November election. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a plan authored by Supervisor Cindy...