News Roundup

March 26, 2020

Supermarkets Are Adding Sneeze Guards to Checkout Lanes

Other local news: Santa Barbara County now has 26 cases and is telling where they are; jail discharging inmates early; high-school student starts group to do shopping for seniors; Downtown Organization director is leaving; progress for the Rincon Bluffs Preserve.

March 25, 2020

Santa Barbara County Now Has 24 Confirmed Cases of Covid-19

Other local news: Hospitals devising plans to cope with surge of patients; county estimated to lose 6,870 jobs as a result of the pandemic; a better way to track cannabis taxes; Oprah Winfrey is social-distancing from her partner; penguin allowed to explore zoo grounds.

March 24, 2020

The Harsh Toll on Santa Barbara’s Many Undocumented Workers

Other local news: East Beach volleyball nets taken down; we're at 83% of normal rainfall for the season; online programming from UCSB Arts & Lectures; mechanical failure at the News-Press.

March 23, 2020

Five New Cases Confirmed in Santa Barbara County

Other news: California has more than 1,800 cases, but that's likely low due to limited testing; people calling 911 to report a lack of social distancing; Cottage Health has a drop-off zone for donations of medical supplies; cannabis shops allowed to remain open.

March 21, 2020

“Widespread Community Infection” in Santa Barbara, Says Public Health Officer

Other local news: Santa Barbara has just 907 hospital beds; Cottage Health curtailed almost all visits to the hospital; the Four Seasons Biltmore and Ojai Valley Inn have closed; Santa Barbara Airbus suspended service.

March 20, 2020

What the Statewide Stay-at-Home Order Means for You

Other local news: Santa Barbara County bans gatherings larger than 10 people and insists anyone over 75 stay at home; there are now eight positive cases here; city playgrounds closed; Canadians bought three local newspapers; Cachuma Lake and Jalama Beach closed; Foodbank needs donations and volunteers.

March 19, 2020

Three Positive Cases in Santa Barbara County, With 145 Tests Pending

Other local news: Rent relief for residents and businesses; five UCSB students under quarantine tested negative; cannabis industry doing well during the pandemic; limited police and bus service; Contour Airlines suspending operations at month's end.

March 18, 2020

An Emergency Proclamation from the City of Santa Barbara

The city stopped suggesting that certain types of businesses close and started insisting on it. That includes gyms and fitness centers. The order is through April 7.

March 17, 2020

All Bars Encouraged to Close and Restaurants Told to Offer Only Takeout and Delivery

Other local news: Second North County resident tested positive; car-based testing at Sansum Clinic; city suspends street sweeping; more on UCSB's plans for Paseo Nuevo.

The Tiered System for Covid-19 Testing in Santa Barbara

Other local news: The current tally of tests administered here; Santa Barbara Zoo and Chumash Casino have closed; permits for Montecito debris nets get renewed; the tree of the month.