Medical experts urge everyone to follow guidelines through the New Year

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) With COVID-19 cases still on the rise and local area hospital ICU capacities plummeting, medical experts are urging everyone to follow the public health orders.

As New Year's Eve quickly approaches, people across the Central Coast are expressing their frustrations and say they are growing weary of another shutdown.

Many say health orders and shutdown are getting too political while others say it's a matter of saving lives.

The people in Monterey expressed whether or not they think the public will avoid gatherings over the holidays.

“I think so, I see a lot of people wearing more masks now and I think people are starting to take this more serious," says a tourist named Vanessa.

Another tourist, Vito, says he does not think people will adhere to the guidelines.

“People are sick and tired of being bullied and told what to do.”

With COVID-19 cases surging after the recent Thanksgiving holiday, medical experts are making a last-ditch effort to warn the public about following guidelines and avoiding gatherings.

Doctor Martha Blum with Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula says she expects COVID-19 cases will surge after the holidays.

“I think every family needs to consider their situation, consider their vulnerable family members and make plans for what to do should someone at one of their gatherings gets sick," says Blum.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states on its website that a 14 day quarantine is recommended but quarantine can end after 10 days if no symptoms are seen during daily monitoring.

Doctor Blum suggests everyone should have a plan ahead of time for how they are going to quarantine those ten days in the event someone around them tests positive for the virus following a gathering.

However, medical experts say it's not just gatherings they are worried about but businesses as well.

Several businesses in Monterey County were approached or cited throughout the pandemic for not following mandated COVID safety requirements.

The Tuck Box restaurant in Carmel was recently cited for continuing to offer outdoor dining...a violation of the health order.

Aloha Coffee & Cafe had its license suspended then revoked for non-compliance of the face mask order.

“We really don’t have any more tolerance for non-compliance with any orders and we’re taking swift action," says Ricardo Encarnacion with the Monterey County Environmental Health Department.

“It’s been very difficult for our business owners who want to do the right thing, so in instances like that it could be helpful to have more of an enforcement presence," says Doctor Blum.

Doctor Blum recently advocated for stricter curfew and COVID safety enforcements.

The Monterey Police Department and the Monterey County Sheriffs Department responded saying they will continue with an education first approach while being on alert for any large gatherings.

Although two vaccines are now in circulation, Doctor Blum says precautions will also curb the spread of other illnesses like the flu or colds.

“If we do everything right and we get the vaccine rolled out and get enough people accepting and getting vaccinated, then I’m very hopeful that by holiday time next year it’ll be a very different experience for everyone," says Doctor Blum.

County and medical officials say everyone should continue getting tested during and after the holidays.

Free COVID-19 testing will begin on Monday at Saint Mary of The Nativity Church in Salinas from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

No appointments are needed.