News & Announcements

ALAMEDA COUNTY IS ALIGNED WITH THE STATE'S BEYOND THE BLUEPRINT FRAMEWORK

Alameda County is rescinding its Shelter-in-Place Order in order to fully align with the State's Beyond the Blueprint Framework.

Effective June 15, 2021, new Health Officer Order 21-01a aligns the County with the restrictions, terms, and conditions imposed on individuals, businesses, and activities by the State's Public Health Officer Order issued on June 11, which means no more physical distancing, no more capacity limits on businesses, no more county tiers, and relaxed mask guidance.

The State's new more limited Beyond-the-Blueprint restrictions are only applicable to masking and Mega Events, as well as settings serving children and youth pending an expected update to the K-12 schools guidance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Individuals and employers are directed to the State's COVID-19 website to determine the permissions and restrictions applicable to specific activities and businesses.

All workplaces governed by Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards must continue to follow their current standards and any forthcoming updates, including masking requirements for employees.

Nearly 80 percent of Alameda County residents, 12 and older, have received at least one dose of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, which has directly resulted in reduced case rates. Alameda County remains aligned with the State's face masking mandate. Under that mandate, everyone should wear a mask in the following settings, even if fully vaccinated:

• On public transit and in transit hubs, such as airports, train and subway stations, and ferry landings
• Indoors in schools, childcare, and other youth settings
• Health care settings and long-term care facilities
• Correctional facilities and detention centers
• Homeless and emergency shelters and cooling centers

Masks continue to be required for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses (examples: retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public).

While community transmission is low, COVID-19 is still a very real threat to unvaccinated people and they are likely to get infected and spread the virus, which is transmitted through the air. The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency's Public Health Department will continue to monitor local disease conditions, and use testing, isolation of people with COVID-19, and quarantine for exposed unvaccinated people to limit transmission and protect public health. To support ongoing vaccination efforts alongside community resilience and recovery, the Public Health Department recently released a $10M RFP that will fund community-led proposals serving priority populations and geographic areas.

For anyone 12 and older: there is a vaccine waiting for you.

The decline in cases and mortality shows that the best protection against COVID-19 is vaccination. All currently available vaccines are safe, effective, free, and widely available. When you are ready, get vaccinated. All three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are available at County-supported Community Points of Dispensing (PODs) every day they are open. Everyone 12 and older is welcome! Bring your children, family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors! You don't need insurance and you won't be asked for your immigration status.

If you missed your second dose, you should still complete your vaccination series. Visit https://covid19.acgov.org/vaccines.page#availability to learn where you can find a vaccination clinic near you.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, get tested and then stay home. Wash your hands regularly. Keep six feet of distance when you are in public or don't know the vaccination status of those around you.

Please check back on the Alameda County Public Health Department's dedicated COVID-19 website for updates and clarifications: https://covid-19.acgov.org/