[ad_1]
Alameda County health officials will not allow additional businesses to open as the spread of COVID-19 increases in Berkeley, Oakland and neighboring cities, with warnings that the region could soon return to more restrictive levels in the state surveillance system.
From September through October, the county quickly went from purple, or “widespread”, to orange, or “moderate” levels, meaning a reintroduction of indoor food and personal care services (with capacity limits) , a green light for in-person learning at local schools and easing restrictions for retail and other sectors.
But on Thursday morning, the county health official said worsening COVID-19 conditions could set it back to red, or even purple, when the state announces its next update on Tuesday. Domestic businesses and larger retail capacities are still allowed to operate in the meantime, but that could change if the spread of COVID-19 continues to worsen.
The red level equates to a “substantial” risk of COVID-19 in a given county, with four to seven new cases per day per 100,000 population and between 5 and 8% of tests returning positive. The latest level announcement, on Nov. 10, sent Contra Costa and Santa Cruz counties back to red level and prompted San Francisco to voluntarily shut down restaurants inside.
Alameda County has been in the lower orange level for about a month, but it currently has 3.8 cases per day per 100,000 population (at the orange end, at the border of red), with a positivity rate of 1 , 6%.
The “measure of health equity” is 2.8%. This measures case rates in inner city neighborhoods or having communities with essential workers, low-income residents, blacks, Latinos, and Pacific Islanders. Many of these neighborhoods are in Oakland, as reported by the state’s Healthy Places Index, and some, like East Oakland, have been particularly affected by COVID-19.
Dr Gerard Jenkins, chief medical officer of the Native American Health Center in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, which has one of the highest COVID case rates in the county, said suspending reopening plans was the right thing to do. make.
“I understand the concern and I think it’s appropriate,” Jenkins said. “Although I know a lot of people won’t be fans of this movement. It is necessary.”
Equally important, he said, will be that community members comply with county health guidelines.
“I think there is a feeling of COVID fatigue, and not just at Fruitvale. There are people who get a little complacent with the rules, ”he said. “People are exasperated that they have to deal with COVID and want to continue living their lives. But unless there is general consistency on the part of people who are consciously really trying to curb it and follow all of these rules and guidelines, I think we will continue to be challenged.
Cases in Berkeley have also been looking for a peak since mid-October, when cases hovered around one or two per day. Today, the average daily workload is seven, with what appears to be an upward trajectory, and the positivity rate is 1.05% – up from 0.48% in previous weeks.
The Berkeley Unified School District finally launched on Monday a much-anticipated pilot reopening for students struggling with distance learning difficulties, allowing nine cohorts of 70 students in total at Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Jefferson and the New Schools elementary school in Oxford. Even if the county reverts to the purple level, this cohort program will still be allowed, but broader reopening plans for all students and grade levels will be put on hold.
Berkeley’s health official has the capacity to impose even bigger restrictions than the county in the coming weeks, but the city has yet to sound the alarm in the face of the increase in cases. The city may decide to go this route if the community’s spread worsens, but city spokesman Matthai Chakko said Berkeley has “overwhelmingly” aligned with county guidelines and will stay in line. close communication with managers when deciding next steps.
This story has been updated with information from city officials.
[ad_2]
Source link