Latest Watsonville Coronavirus Updates

WATSONVILLE, CA — Plans to head over to a Santa Cruz County beach this weekend? You might want to consider revising or canceling your plans.

Officials unveiled a new shelter-in-place order Thursday which will ease up on some restrictions while tightening others. Beaches will be closed entirely from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to prevent crowding. Only exercise — no sunbathing, sightseeing, sitting or standing — is allowed during the other hours.

The 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 and landscaping
• Golf courses/driving ranges
• Real estate/moving
• Fabric, craft stores for sale of materials used to create protective gear such as masks, gowns, etc.

The City of Watsonville is anticipating taking a financial hit thanks to the coronavirus and is looking to cut corners. Councilmembers voted Tuesday to reinstate early retirement incentive and voluntary time off programs.

The council also voted to accept $69,000 in federal aid for the Watsonville Municipal Airport.

>>>See statewide updates and news here

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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: Watsonville Coronavirus News