Five people have died from coronavirus in Santa Clara County as of Tuesday evening. Officials announced a man in his 50s died Tuesday after being hospitalized since March 9. One of the deaths in Santa Clara County so far includes a homeless resident, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. As of Monday night, 392 people had...
Santa Clara declares local emergency due to coronavirus
The Santa Clara City Council ratified a local emergency Tuesday in an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus, following the lead of Santa Clara County, which issued a heightened shelter in place order on Monday. “There is a hollow sound in this chamber,” Mayor Lisa Gillmor said, sitting six feet from her fellow councilmembers...
Post
San Jose adopts measures to help businesses amid coronavirus closures
As cancellations, school closures and mandatory quarantines ramp up, San Jose leaders are scrambling to help the city’s most vulnerable residents, fearing devastating economic consequences for residents and local small businesses that are losing income. Following last week’s call to place a moratorium on evictions for residents who can’t pay rent because of lost income,...
San Jose bars serve their last cocktail amid coronavirus shutdown
Like other San Jose watering holes, San Jose’s Britannia Arms in Almaden has temporarily closed its doors following the health mandate from Santa Clara County and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request. On Sunday, Newsom asked all state bars, nightclubs, wineries, and brewpubs to close in an increased effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants...
Post
San Jose Public Libraries to close in wake of coronavirus pandemic
City officials are closing all San Jose Public Libraries beginning Tuesday after Santa Clara County and five other Bay Area counties issued a shelter in place mandate, ordering residents to stay at home as much as possible to decrease the spread of coronavirus. “We’re following the county of Santa Clara order along with several other...
Post
San Jose: Senior care facilities take steps to protect residents from coronavirus
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb in Santa Clara County, those caring for the most vulnerable residents — senior citizens — are increasingly on edge. Senior home workers in the South Bay are wiping down commonly touched surfaces more frequently and taking inventory of items such as hand sanitizer, masks and gloves....
How is Silicon Valley helping the homeless amid coronavirus pandemic?
As Santa Clara County undergoes expansive measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, questions remain about how people experiencing homelessness will receive information and resources. With an increasing homeless population totaling more than 9,700 countywide, and close to 8,000 unsheltered per the 2019 homeless census, officials say they’re increasing outreach and resources related to COVID-19...
Coronavirus takes toll on San Jose small businesses
When Sean Yang was in college, he bussed tables at the San Jose sushi bar Kazoo. Now, some 28 years later, he owns the place. But since the coronavirus pandemic began, what he suspects is fear of the virus has caused a significant dip in business. He wonders how long his restaurant can tough it...
Vargas: We need a plan to protect vulnerable communities from COVID-19
As COVID-19, colloquially known as the “coronavirus,” spreads around the world, people are starting to use words like “epidemic” and “pandemic” to describe it. While the risk to otherwise healthy people is limited, the virus presents a very real danger to those who have a compromised immune system such as seniors. In response, many countries...
VTA adopts enhanced cleaning practices in response to coronavirus concerns
The Valley Transportation Authority is taking new steps to disinfect buses, light rail cars and stations to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Santa Clara County. The agency’s response to concerns about surface transmission of coronavirus drew praise from regular riders and advocates alike. “They are doing everything they can,” said transit activist...