Outbreak Closes Salvation Army Shelter; Watsonville Case Count

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Salvation Army Shelter in Watsonville is temporarily closed after eight asymptomatic residents and staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus, Santa Cruz County said Monday.

All residents have been relocated. The site will reopen after a thorough cleaning and the isolation period has passed.

The outbreak was detected after a shelter resident tested positive before undergoing an unrelated medical procedure, the county said in a news release. All shelter residents and staff were tested for the coronavirus, and seven other tests came back positive. They will receive support through the Homeless Persons Health Project.

Watsonville is currently the epicenter of Santa Cruz County's coronavirus outbreak. County officials report 391 residents have fallen ill with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

A total of 772 Santa Cruz County residents have tested positive for the virus so far, including 143 in Santa Cruz, 142 in unincorporated Santa Cruz County, 29 in Capitola and 18 in Scotts Valley. Another 49 cases are under investigation.

The county reminds people to wear masks, keep six feet of distance from others and wash hands often.