Latest Santa Cruz Coronavirus Updates

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz County beaches will look much emptier in the days to come, with officials announcing Wednesday plans to close beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to prevent crowding.

Hours later, county Health Officer Gail Newel unveiled plans to extend the new coronavirus shelter-in-place order indefinitely, while also easing some restrictions. The new order goes into effect Saturday.

You can get more complete information about Thursday's updates here, but below is a list of some significant activities/operations that will resume/reopen:

• Some kids' educational/recreational groups with fewer than 12 people
• Construction
• Golf courses/driving ranges
• Real estate/moving
• Fabric, craft stores for sale of materials used to create protective gear such as masks, gowns, etc.

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In Other News

More testing: The county and state are collaborating to open a specimen collection site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville, which will likely serve lower-risk patients who do not need immediate results. Officials expect it to open late next week.

Road map to reopening public life: The Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has brought onboard consultant Margaret Lapiz to help the county create a plan to restart the economy and community, at no cost to taxpayers. Officials say there must be more testing, among other services, before restrictions can be eased.

Hotels for health care workers: Santa Cruz County health care workers worried that they have been exposed to the new coronavirus may obtain a hotel room near their workplace at low or no cost to protect family members, thanks to a new state program.

We need a hero: Patch wants to recognize community members who are making a difference. Know someone? Tell us all about it here! The more detail about their acts of kindness, the better.

By The Numbers

As of Thursday 131 cases have been confirmed in Santa Cruz County, including 19 hospitalized patients. More than 3,570 COVID-19 tests have come back negative and 88 patients have been recovered. Two people have died.

COVID-19 Cases By Age

Source: Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency

Patient Place Of Residence:

Source: Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency

Most Likely Source Of Exposure

Source: Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency

Full coronavirus coverage: Santa Cruz Coronavirus News