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In the last month hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 have more than doubled, prompting Alameda County health officials to announce that as of June 3, 2022 masks will be required in most indoor public settings.
Alameda County will not require masking in K-12 school settings through the end of the 2021-22 school year, but masking is still strongly recommended. Masks will be required in all other children and youth settings, including childcare, summer school, and youth programs, as practicable.
According to the County, the indoor mask mandate was reinstated primarily due to the following:
- Daily reported COVID-19 cases have exceeded the peak of last summer’s Delta wave and are now approaching levels seen during the winter 2020-21 wave, at comparable lab-reported testing levels. Reported cases are likely an underestimate of the total due to home testing and unidentified infections.
- Hospitalizations are also rising after remaining stable during the early weeks of this wave. Daily new admissions of patients with COVID-19 rapidly increased in recent days and now exceed last summer’s peak. The County expects to reach CDC’s “High” COVID-19 Community Level soon, given current trends.
- While COVID-19 vaccination, boosters, prior infection and available medications provide protection against severe illness, the virus that causes COVID is circulating at very high levels in Alameda County. Even with strong protections, such high numbers of infections put more people at risk and in the hospital.
In addition to masking, residents are reminded to continue taking other steps to limit spreading COVID-19:
- Stay home if sick or positive
- Test if symptomatic or exposed
- Keep gatherings small and outdoors or increase ventilation if gathering indoors.
If you are not vaccinated or boosted, the County strongly urges you to drop visit a clinic if you are eligible and talk to your health care provider about treatment if you test positive for COVID and have mild or moderate symptoms. Visit the COVID-19 website for informational resources.
The Alameda County Health Officer will continue to monitor COVID cases and hospitalizations to determine when the indoor mask mandate can be lifted safely.
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The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) is still accepting applications for California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grants.
The program will award competitive micro grants of $2,500 to 715 eligible microbusinesses impacted by COVID-19 in Alameda County. The grants will be administered by Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information, including documentation requirements for applicants and grant eligibility, visit: microbusinessgrant.org.
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