As a public service, the BenitoLink team provides a frequent roundup of recent COVID-19 related data, resources and articles about San Benito County.
As of 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 14, 10,145 people in San Benito County have tested positive for the coronavirus since the first confirmed case in February 2020. Three hundred ninety-four are active patients, 9,662 have recovered, five are hospitalized and 89 have died, with the latest deaths reported Jan. 14. For the most updated information, including bi-weekly statistics about variants and number of vaccinated individuals visit the San Benito County COVID-19 Dashboard. (The county will provide graph reports every Tuesday and Thursday. The dashboard is updated daily.)
Bi-Weekly Statistics Jan. 13
Recent Articles
Hollister School District provides KN95 masks to staff
The Hollister School District this week distributed nearly 3,700 KN95 masks to staff members as an additional safety measure during the current surge in COVID-19 cases.
San Benito County issues COVID-19 pop-up testing site advisory
Most COVID testing is free to the public and there are several legitimate sites in the county.
Hollister School District faces COVID surge
Board of Trustees takes action to deal with teacher shortages and expand communication with parents.
No walk-in COVID-19 OptumServe testing until further notice
You can still test with an appointment and other local testing locations are available.
Gavilan trustees approve COVID protocols for spring semester
College President Kathleen Rose says more classes will be conducted remotely.
Where to get tested
Hazel Hawkins Community Health Center Building 2, Suite B,930 Sunset Drive, Hollister.
Sunday-Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Make an appointment at: lhi.care/covidtesting or call 1-888-634-1123.
Pinnacle Healthcare (Including rapid testing) – open to all residents
https://www.pinnacleweb.com/services/covid-19-testing/
Walgreens drive thru
https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing
Does not supply QR code that could be needed for travel.
Gilroy Outlets
https://testbeforeyougo.com/store/simon-gilroy-premium-outlets-covid-19-testing/
Vaccination Progress
San Benito County Vaccination statistics from the state COVID-19 site as of 11:59 p.m., Jan. 13.
103,256 doses have been administered.
71.5% of eligible individuals are fully vaccinated.
8% are partially vaccinated.
43.8% of eligible individuals have received a booster dose.
Percent of San Benito County population by ethnicity with at least one dose.
American Indian or Alaska Native-0.3 (3.1% of SBC population)
Asian – 3.6 (3.9% of SBC population)
Black -0.8 (1.6% of SBC population)
Latino 47.1 (60.8% of SBC population)
Multi-race -1 (3.6% of SBC population)
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander -0.4 (0.4% of SBC population)
White-28.1 (32.8% of population)
Other -7.2
Unknown – 11.4
Percent fully vaccinated per zip code:
95023- 71 (Hollister)
95045- 66 (SJB)
95043- 40 (Paicines, Panoche Valley and New Idria)
95075- 82 (Tres Pinos)
95004- 71 (Aromas. 95004 extends into three counties-San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz. Count is for entire zip code)
More statistical information on the County’s vaccination progress can be found here.
Housing
State rent assistance resource for tenants and landlords. Housing is Key
Other
The governor signed several executives orders and took other steps this week to ensure access to testing and vaccinations. These include the following:
- The California National Guard has been called upon to support local communities with additional testing facilities and capacity amid surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant.
- A proposed $2.7 billion COVID-19 Emergency Response Package has been put forward. The packet includes a $1.4 billion emergency appropriation request – to bolster testing capacity, accelerate vaccination and booster efforts, support frontline workers, strengthen the health care system and battle misinformation.
- Executive Order to Prevent Price Gouging on At-Home COVID Tests has been signed.
See more here.
Resources
The State has several hotlines for residents to call for suicide prevention, abuse, and mental health:
24-hour Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 or text 838255
24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or click Chat Now
Call 911 if you or the person you are helping is in immediate danger.
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, helps protect workers from health and safety hazards in almost every workplace in California.
Visit Cal/OSHA for information about workplace safety and health.
File a confidential workplace safety complaint.
File a whistleblower complaint if you suffer retaliation for reporting a workplace safety hazard
Obtain free consultation services from Cal/OSHA.
Contact Cal/OSHA at 844-522-6734.
State and federal elected officials’ COVID-19 web pages.
State of California: https://covid19.ca.gov/ https://covid19.ca.gov/es/
San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency/Coronavirus
Food Distribution Community Food Bank www.communityfoodbankofsbc.org
Drive-thru service at the marketplace Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 1133 San Felipe Rd. in Hollister. Sign-ups for supplemental food are done by phone 831-637-0340
Food Distribution Salvation Army hollister.salvationarmy.org Drive-thru service Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. 910 Buena Vista Rd. Hollister Sign-ups not required To schedule delivery call 310-753-6520.
Public Assistance CalFresh/Medi-Cal/Cash Aid/GA hhsa.cosb.us apply online at www.c4yourself.com 831-636-4180.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits Employment Development Department apply online at www.edd.ca.gov/ui_online 831-638-3306.
Senior Services Delivery of essential items and food City of Hollister and Jovenes de Antano [email protected] 831-636-4390.
Disability/Paid Family Leave Employment Development Department apply online at www.edd.ca.gov/sdi_online 831-638-3306.
United Way of San Benito County 2-1-1 Text your Zip Code to 831-898-211 or call 211 Text COVID2019 to 211211
Tips for avoiding COVID-19
- Get vaccinated and boosted.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
- Keep a minimum of a six feet physical distance from others.
- Avoid people who are sick.
- Avoid public indoor places.
- Cover your mouth and nose with protective covering when indoors with the public.
- Disinfect frequently touched objects.
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