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Aptos
March 20, 2026

Officials hope guidelines slow virus’ spread on Father’s Day

covid-19 father's day
WATSONVILLE—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday updated its recommendations for personal and social activities, giving people a brief playbook of how they can lessen their chance of contracting the novel coronavirus while dining at restaurants, using gyms and attending gatherings. Though health...

Smaller classes, fewer days lead district’s plans for fall semester

PVUSD covid-19 fall
WATSONVILLE—Many students unable to return to class when school starts on Aug. 14 due to Covid-19 restrictions will attend a virtual academy, an all-online option created by Pajaro Valley Unified School District as it plans for the coming academic year. The PVUSD Board of Trustees...

Cabrillo sees enrollment drop following fires, pandemic

Cabrillo College enrollment
APTOS—When Covid-19 began to sweep the U.S.—and brought with it an economic recession—Cabrillo College officials expected a jump in enrollment that typically comes with a battered economy. But the college is now seeing a significant drop in those numbers, which it pins on the double...

State gives central coast counties ​greenlight to open dine-in restaurants​, barbershops

Covid-19 watsonville
The California Department of Public Health approved Covid-19 County Variance Attestation Forms for both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, the agencies announced Saturday morning. The acceptance will allow the neighboring counties to advance into Stage 2 of the state's so-called resilience roadmap. Restaurants can now...

Second Harvest Food Bank facing financial strain

second harvest food bank
WATSONVILLE—Gov. Gavin Newsom announced increased funding for the Farm to Family Program on April 29. The program directly connects farmers and ranchers to food banks to feed Californians around the state. The state intends to seed a $15 million campaign with $3.64 million to...

New housing program helps farmworkers during Covid-19 pandemic

housing for the harvest
WATSONVILLE—Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 24 revealed a new temporary housing program that aims to help agricultural workers across the state better protect themselves and their families during the Covid-19 pandemic. Housing for the Harvest will offer temporary hotel housing to workers who need to...

With parade nixed, Aptos celebrates Fourth of July from afar

Aptos parade
Since 1961, the World’s Shortest Parade has packed Soquel Drive in Aptos with floats, decorated cars, bands and other community displays of patriotism in celebration of Independence Day. That will not be the case this year. With the novel coronavirus still spreading and stay-at-home orders in...

PVUSD delays decision on school opening plan

PVUSD Covid-19 plan
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously voted to delay a decision on how to resume classes in August, to give district officials time to investigate all of their options. Still undetermined is which risk level the district will use...

Newsom closes indoor services in restaurants, other businesses

watsonville covid-19
SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday ordered a statewide closure to indoor services in restaurants, theaters, wineries, museums, zoos, card rooms and family entertainment centers. Bars must cease all operations.  In addition, 30 counties on California’s county watchlist must also shutter their churches, gyms, malls, hair...

County still weeks away from opening restaurants for dine-in

Santa Cruz County restaurants covid-19
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though some rural counties around the state are allowing their restaurants to open for dine-in service, Santa Cruz County officials are still at least several days away from giving their restaurateurs the green light. That’s according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin, who on...