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Here we go again, just like Father Time, Monday’s lifting of the regional stay-at-home order brought Santa Cruz County businesses back into the purple tier — a status that gives us some freedom, but continues previous restrictions. Outdoor dining, hair and nail salons, barbershops, and gyms had been completely closed since the Bay Area stay-at-home order was imposed on Dec. 17. The purple tier means we can reopen under certain restrictions. But winter weather, confusion over the regulations, and trying to reopen after a long closure are just some of the challenges we now must overcome. Here are the latest Risk Levels for Santa Cruz County: https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/. Scroll down to your specific business sector and read the requirements. The hospitality industry is particularly in a state of confusion. During the early months of the pandemic, hotels were restricted to only allow essential workers to stay for an extended period. As the summer months opened up less restrictive health guidelines, hotels were allowed to have guests who abided by all COVID-19 protocols with some limited indoor dining, which then was eventually restricted to only outdoor dining. During the Stay at Home Order for the past four weeks, the hotel industry is managing at very high vacancy rates. Under a normal winter season, that would not be an issue for our tourist area, as our hotels shift to a winter service mode. However, with the long 11-month slog and ever-changing rules, the confusion persists alongside the pandemic itself. Here is what the California guidelines state: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx Vaccine: How, When and Where to Get It: Until vaccines are widely available, the state and federal governments have prioritized vaccine distribution to frontline health care workers and vulnerable populations (see chart). Vaccines will come into the community through a variety of means, including direct allocations to local congregate living facilities, medical providers, health insurers and the Public Health Division. Most residents will receive their vaccines through their medical provider, and residents should contact their doctor or clinic for more information. The Public Health Division will distribute vaccines through its local vaccine plan. County HSA Coronavirus/Vaccine This news comes on the heels of information about the rollout of the SBA’s PPP phase 2 loan program. SBA PPP Loans For Santa Cruz County businesses pummeled by the coronavirus, the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program was a lifeline. And with a new round of PPP funding opening up now, local banks are working furiously to accommodate another wave of applicants. Zach Davis, a Chamber Board member and co-owner of The Glass Jar, parent company of The Penny Ice Creamery, Snap Taco and The Picnic Basket restaurants — is one such applicant. He is not alone in the lineup of businesses looking for additional funding. Our local community banks have been essential to the small business community during COVID-19. They are gearing up to serve their customers and the greater Santa Cruz County business community in the next round of SBA PPP loans. 1st Capital Bank (SBA PPP), Bay Federal Credit Union (SBA PPP 1) Santa Cruz County Bank (SBA PPP @) And we couldn’t end the first month of 2021 without a winter storm watch. An evacuation alert in the Santa Cruz Mountains (north to south) was not as severe as predicted, as Tuesday night's massive storm didn't cause the potentially massive damage many officials were fearing in Santa Cruz County. "The storm shifted prior to last night, and that cut our rainfall totals about in half," says Jason Hoppin, Communications Manager for Santa Cruz County. The powerful winter storm that prompted the evacuation of 5,000 residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains over fears of potentially deadly mudslides moved through the Bay Area Wednesday, causing strong winds, power outages, snow at higher elevations, and downed trees from Sonoma to Monterey Counties. In a Wednesday briefing, Santa Cruz County officials say they are continuing to uphold the evacuation orders and warnings indefinitely. Santa Cruz County Chief Deputy Chris Clark said they were hoping to lift the orders on Wednesday, but due to more thunderstorms, they are holding off and advising residents to stay out of the area. The orders are dependent on the weather, and officials remain optimistic that they will be able to lift the evacuations by Thursday. Watch the full briefing here.
Here we go again, just like Father Time, Monday’s lifting of the regional stay-at-home order brought Santa Cruz County businesses back into the purple tier — a status that gives us some freedom, but continues previous restrictions. Outdoor dining, hair and nail salons, barbershops, and gyms had been completely closed since the Bay Area stay-at-home order was imposed on Dec. 17. The purple tier means we can reopen under certain restrictions. But winter weather, confusion over the regulations, and trying to reopen after a long closure are just some of the challenges we now must overcome. Here are the latest Risk Levels for Santa Cruz County: https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/. Scroll down to your specific business sector and read the requirements.
The hospitality industry is particularly in a state of confusion. During the early months of the pandemic, hotels were restricted to only allow essential workers to stay for an extended period. As the summer months opened up less restrictive health guidelines, hotels were allowed to have guests who abided by all COVID-19 protocols with some limited indoor dining, which then was eventually restricted to only outdoor dining. During the Stay at Home Order for the past four weeks, the hotel industry is managing at very high vacancy rates. Under a normal winter season, that would not be an issue for our tourist area, as our hotels shift to a winter service mode. However, with the long 11-month slog and ever-changing rules, the confusion persists alongside the pandemic itself. Here is what the California guidelines state: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx
Vaccine: How, When and Where to Get It:
Until vaccines are widely available, the state and federal governments have prioritized vaccine distribution to frontline health care workers and vulnerable populations (see chart). Vaccines will come into the community through a variety of means, including direct allocations to local congregate living facilities, medical providers, health insurers and the Public Health Division. Most residents will receive their vaccines through their medical provider, and residents should contact their doctor or clinic for more information. The Public Health Division will distribute vaccines through its local vaccine plan. County HSA Coronavirus/Vaccine
This news comes on the heels of information about the rollout of the SBA’s PPP phase 2 loan program. SBA PPP Loans
For Santa Cruz County businesses pummeled by the coronavirus, the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program was a lifeline. And with a new round of PPP funding opening up now, local banks are working furiously to accommodate another wave of applicants. Zach Davis, a Chamber Board member and co-owner of The Glass Jar, parent company of The Penny Ice Creamery, Snap Taco and The Picnic Basket restaurants — is one such applicant. He is not alone in the lineup of businesses looking for additional funding.
Our local community banks have been essential to the small business community during COVID-19. They are gearing up to serve their customers and the greater Santa Cruz County business community in the next round of SBA PPP loans. 1st Capital Bank (SBA PPP), Bay Federal Credit Union (SBA PPP 1) Santa Cruz County Bank (SBA PPP @)
And we couldn’t end the first month of 2021 without a winter storm watch. An evacuation alert in the Santa Cruz Mountains (north to south) was not as severe as predicted, as Tuesday night's massive storm didn't cause the potentially massive damage many officials were fearing in Santa Cruz County. "The storm shifted prior to last night, and that cut our rainfall totals about in half," says Jason Hoppin, Communications Manager for Santa Cruz County.
The powerful winter storm that prompted the evacuation of 5,000 residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains over fears of potentially deadly mudslides moved through the Bay Area Wednesday, causing strong winds, power outages, snow at higher elevations, and downed trees from Sonoma to Monterey Counties.
In a Wednesday briefing, Santa Cruz County officials say they are continuing to uphold the evacuation orders and warnings indefinitely. Santa Cruz County Chief Deputy Chris Clark said they were hoping to lift the orders on Wednesday, but due to more thunderstorms, they are holding off and advising residents to stay out of the area. The orders are dependent on the weather, and officials remain optimistic that they will be able to lift the evacuations by Thursday. Watch the full briefing here.