Officials at Santa Clara County’s largest water supplier are on the defense after a whistleblower publicly accused the agency of retaliating against employees unvaccinated for COVID-19. An anonymous whistleblower calling himself “John Public” commented at a Valley Water meeting on June 28 and released a video on YouTube, which is no longer available, claiming the...
New COVID vaccine coming to Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County residents will soon have another COVID-19 vaccine option that may be more amenable to those who remain unvaccinated. The two-dose shot, produced by Maryland drugmaker Novavax, is the nation’s first so-called protein vaccine. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved its use for unvaccinated adults ages 18 and older. Compared to...
UPDATE: San Jose council ends COVID mask mandate
San Jose’s COVID-19 mask mandate is coming to an end almost two years after it was adopted. The city’s masking guidelines now align with the county and state, which lifted mask mandates earlier this year in almost all public indoor settings. The City Council unanimously approved ending local restrictions Tuesday with no discussion. Residents, regardless...
Santa Clara County COVID levels low, but virus sticks around
Two years after Santa Clara County announced its first shelter order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the region is stable—but the foreseeable future remains uncertain, county officials said. “Our levels are relatively low,” said Dr. Sara Cody, county public health officer. “But we still are in the middle of the worldwide pandemic. Even though...
Santa Clara County to lift indoor mask mandate
Starting Wednesday, masks will not be required indoors in Santa Clara County. County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody announced this significant milestone during a Tuesday news conference. She said the county and the state still strongly recommend wearing masks in all indoor public spaces. “We know that as inconvenient as it may be, COVID...
When will Santa Clara County ditch indoor masks?
Santa Clara County residents might be able to shed their masks indoors as soon as next week, as the county is close to hitting all metrics to ease COVID-19 restrictions. Dr. Sara Cody, the county’s public health officer, said Thursday the region is heading in the right direction, as the seven-day rolling average of new...
Santa Clara County sees mixed reaction to mask mandate
While California’s indoor mask mandate expired earlier this week, Santa Clara County is likely weeks away from lifting its own requirement, drawing mixed reactions from residents and business owners. “I think it’s dumb,” Chris Nuland, who works in a San Jose preschool, told San José Spotlight while wearing a mask. “The mandate is a little...
San Jose could toss its COVID vaccine mandate
A new proposal to switch from a COVID-19 booster vaccine mandate to a testing requirement is making its way through San Jose. The discussion was poised to happen during Wednesday’s Rules committee meeting. It moved to closed session after guidance from City Attorney Nora Frimann, who said personnel issues should be discussed in private. The...
Santa Clara County to support kids who lost parents to COVID-19
Santa Clara County will offer additional support to children who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved creating a program to identify and support county youth who lost parents or guardians to the virus. The board also directed county officials to come up with options to expand wellness centers...
Silicon Valley jail workers say short staffing led to attack
Staffing shortages at Santa Clara County’s main jail partly caused by COVID-19 may have created conditions that allowed for an inmate assault on a deputy in early January. Details about the attack are murky because the Sheriff’s Office will not release records of the assault. However, a sheriff employee did confirm the main jail was significantly short-staffed...