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Friday, July 16, 2021
With cases of COVID-19 increasing locally and increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant, counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma and the City of Berkeley recommend that everyone, Regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as an additional precautionary measure for those who are fully vaccinated, and to ensure easy verification that all unvaccinated people are masked in these places.
As of June, Delta variants made up 43% of all specimens sequenced in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that Delta variants are now responsible for 58% of new infections across the country.
Fully vaccinated people are well protected against serious infections and illnesses from known variants of COVID-19, including Delta variants, and vaccinating as many people as possible, as soon as possible, continues to be our best defense against a serious infection with COVID-19, and the harm it can do to our region. Vaccines are safe, effective, free, and widely available for all ages 12 and older.
As a precaution, people are recommended to wear masks indoors in environments such as grocery or retail stores, theaters, and family entertainment centers, even if they are fully vaccinated as an added layer of protection. for unvaccinated residents. Businesses are urged to adopt universal masking requirements for customers entering interior areas of their businesses to provide better protection for their employees and customers. Workplaces must comply with Cal / OSHA requirements, and fully immunized employees are encouraged to wear masks indoors if their employer has not confirmed the immunization status of those around them.
“The Delta variant is spreading quickly and everyone should take steps to protect themselves and others from this potentially deadly virus,” said Dr Nicholas Moss, Alameda County health official. For masks to work properly, they must completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face and around your nose.
Bay Area health workers will revisit this recommendation in the coming weeks as they continue to monitor transmission rates, hospitalizations, deaths and increasing vaccination rates across the region. Contra Costa data can be monitored here.
“The highly infectious Delta variant is now the predominant strain in Contra Costa County,” said Dr Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County Health Officer. “While vaccines remain our best tool against COVID-19, masking in crowded indoor and outdoor environments will help us curb the spread of this latest wave of infection. ”
People are considered to be fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. People with only one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine who are not fully protected. Completion of the vaccine series is necessary to ensure complete protection.
Visit our website to find out where you can find an immunization site near you or call 833-829-2626. If you missed your second dose, please find an immunization clinic near you.
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