Public Invited to Observe Recall Election

COMMUNITY NEWS Public Invited to Observe Recall Election

The Santa Cruz County Clerk/ Elections Department invites the public to observe all aspects of the Sept.14 Gubernatorial Recall Election at the Elections Department 701 Ocean St. Room 310, Santa Cruz. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Observers must sign in and observe current County Health COVID-19 protocols including wearing a face covering. If necessary, observers may be scheduled at different times to maintain safety.

Santa Cruz County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Tricia Webber said, “Those who wish to observe the election should contact us 24 hours in advance so that we can facilitate the observation process. You can call the election office at 831-454-2060 or toll free 866-282-5900 or send an e-mail to info@votescount. us.”

Logic and accuracy testing of the ballot tabulation equipment began Aug. 19, and vote-by- mail ballot processing began Aug. 23. Results from processed vote-by-mail and in-person ballots will be available shortly after 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Sept.14. Counting will resume on Sept. 17 and continue through the end of the canvass period.

The selection process for the 1% manual tally required under the California Election Code will occur at 10 a.m. Sept. 16, with the actual 1% manual tally beginning Sept. 20 at 8:30 a.m. and continue until certification of the election.

State law gives the Registrar of Voters 30 days after the election to certify the results.

Observers are also welcome at the in-person voting locations, the Elections Department in Santa Cruz and the Watsonville City Clerk’s office, which opened first, with 17 more opening Saturday, Sept. 11, including New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave. Capitola, and Soquel High School, 401 Soquel San Jose Rd. Soquel.

Early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11-12, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.

Ballots also can be mailed, but must be postmarked on or before Sept. 14. Delivery can take three to seven days. n •••

For more locations and the daily schedule of the VoteMobile, see www.votescount.us or call 831-454-2060.

For questions, contact Tricia Webber 831454-2409 or tricia.webber@santacruzcounty.us.

A Vote Mobile Kiosk at the Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market on August 18

“COVID Update” from page 9

Recently, the County Office of Education launched a central testing location at its office on Encinal Street in Santa Cruz available to all Santa Cruz County school staff. The testing requirement means more work for Soquel Union Elementary School District, and Pajaro Valley Unified reports 27 students and 15 staff have tested positive for COVID since school began Aug. 12.

Central Fire Policy

On Aug. 17, the Central Fire District Board of Directors mandated all personnel be vaccinated against COVID-19 with exceptions “for the sincere religious beliefs and legitimate significant medical contraindications.”

Fire Chief John Walbridge cited local case rates rising and an expectation of more hospitalizations.

Most Central firefighters are already vaccinated, according to Sarah Melton, the district’s administrative assistant, adding that for the remaining personnel, the policy implementation date has not been set yet.

How to Find Testing

Because the Delta variant is so much more contagious than the initial virus, Santa Cruz County Public Health reminds everyone to get tested if they feel sick. Free testing sites are available at www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus under the “Get Tested” button. The Delta variant spreads easily from person to person particularly indoors so the vast majority of new cases are considered to have no clear source of exposure, which limits the effectiveness of contact tracing.

Anyone with symptoms, such as sniffles or eye irritation, is urged get tested and self-isolate for 10 days. Unvaccinated individuals with a known exposure should get tested and self-quarantine, following guidance from the California Department of Public Health. If they test positive, they should self-isolate for 14 days.

Unvaccinated children with household exposures should quarantine for 14 days and refrain from attending school during their quarantine period.

Vaccinated individuals who are exposed but have no symptoms do not need to quarantine but should get tested 3-5 days after their last exposure and monitor for symptoms 14 days following their last exposure. They should wear a mask and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces for the 14-day period. If they develop symptoms or test positive, they should self-isolate and contact their healthcare provider.

The state reported 65,000 deaths, a number that has been climbing steadily, and 79.9 percent of Californians have received at least one dose and 22 million are fully vaccinated. n •••

COVID Cases by Town

As of Aug. 26 Aptos: 940 • Ben Lomond: 188

Boulder Creek: 243 • Capitola: 534 Felton: 212 • Freedom: 1,050

Santa Cruz: 4,714 • Scotts Valley: 564 Soquel: 440 • Watsonville: 8,566 Unincorporated: 301 Under investigation: 313

Total: 18,095

•••

County COVID Deaths: 210 Age

90 and up: 56 • 80 to 89: 63 • 70 to 79: 46 60 to 69: 27 • 50 to 59: 5 • 40 to 49: 8 30 to 39: 5

Race/Ethnicity

White: 116 • Latinx: 75 • Asian: 15 Black: 1 • Amer. Indian/Alaskan Native: 1 Unknown: 2 Underlying Conditions Yes: 164 • No: 46 Gender Male: 105 • Female: 105

Source: Santa Cruz County Public Health