|
 COVID-19, Omicron, and Vaccine Info
As 2022 gets underway, we’re experiencing increases in COVID again this winter, along with flu cases this year. Stay vigilant and take steps to lower your risk.
- Keep gatherings small, short and, if possible, outdoors.
- When gathering inside, ventilate well. Open doors and windows, run HVAC systems, and install high-quality air filters.
- Everyone must wear a mask in indoor public settings. Consider wearing a mask in indoor private settings if you are gathering with medically vulnerable friends and family or you don’t know the vaccination status of those around you.
- If possible, get tested to know your COVID-19 status before gathering with friends and family. Plan to test 3-5 days after gathering or traveling too.
- Stay home if you are sick or positive, even if you use an at-home test.
Alameda County rescinded its face mask amendments and now requires everyone to mask in all indoor public settings. This change does not impact face masking requirements for school and youth settings. The local daily case rate is 42.6 per 100,000 residents and rising, and Alameda County community transmission is categorized as “High” on the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is highly transmissible and masks for everyone in all indoor public settings will limit the spread and protect vulnerable residents.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently updated COVID-19 isolation and quarantine aligned with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). CDPH also recommended additional mitigation measures including testing to exit isolation and quarantine and improved masking, while clarifying that fully-vaccinated persons who are booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose are now recommended to quarantine per updated CDC recommendations. Alameda County plans to align with CDPH’s Isolation and Quarantine guidance, including recommending testing to exit Isolation or Quarantine after day five with a negative (at home) test. For some specific, high-risk settings, the County will continue to require the longer isolation and quarantine periods to ensure vulnerable residents of those settings are protected against the spread of COVID-19. The County continues to follow state guidance for K-12 school settings.
The California Department of Public Health released an All Facilities Letter that expands the booster mandate for health care personnel (HCP). The mandate requires health care personnel to be up to date with vaccinations and receive boosters by February 1, 2022, unless exempt. This revision also updates the testing requirements to at least twice weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated exempt HCP and booster-eligible HCP who have not yet received their booster in an acute care or long-term care setting and requires at least weekly COVID-19 testing for HCP in other health care settings. Alameda County is not currently adding a booster mandate beyond the State’s requirements. They’re monitoring the situation and will update as needed to respond to the local epidemic.
Children and Teens
On January 3, 2022, the FDA expanded eligibility for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include the use of a single booster dose in individuals 12 and older at least 5 months after primary vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Read the press release or view booster eligibility.
Alameda County Reaches Milestone: More than 50% of 5-11-Year-Olds have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Read the press release.
To date, there isn’t an increase in pediatric hospitalizations, and the hospitalization rate for children in Alameda County has been low throughout the pandemic. Vaccinations provide strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization. All parents/guardians are encouraged to have their eligible children vaccinated as soon as possible. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine authorized for children. Boosters are authorized and strongly recommended for anyone 16 and older who is 6 months from their second dose.
Free virtual support group for parents and caregivers of youth. The City’s Human Services Department’s Youth & Family Services Division has developed a support group to address and explore the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted families. This is a safe and confidential space to share. Virtual Support Groups are available in English and Spanish, morning or evening, and provide:
- Stress relief for parents and caregivers
- Exploration of strategies for limit setting and addressing challenging behaviors
- Identifying ways to improve communication between family members
Visit our website for more information about these support groups.
COVID-19 Testing
The County is seeing increased demand for testing due to holiday gatherings and traveling. The combination of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, holiday gatherings, and closures are leading to fewer open appointment times and longer waits at testing sites. Testing is available through pharmacies, private providers or labs, doctors’ offices, and health care systems while Alameda County’s community supported sites remain focused on free, low barrier testing in priority neighborhoods most impacted by COVID-19. In addition to rapid tests available for sale, the California Department of Public Health works with Alameda County Public Health Department, school districts, community- based organizations, and health care providers to offer rapid tests free to the public. If a resident can’t access a test for any reason and they are symptomatic, they should stay home regardless of their vaccination status. If they are exposed and unvaccinated, they should also stay home.
No-cost drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Fremont Central Park Sports Complex. Bay Area Community Health is partnering with the City of Fremont to offer free pop-up COVID-19 testing on a monthly basis. Drive-thru appointments are available on the following dates from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm at the Fremont Central Park Sports Complex, located at 1110 Stevenson Blvd.:
- Monday, January 10, 2022
- Wednesday, January 12, 2022
- Friday, January 14, 2022
- Wednesday, January 19, 2022
- Friday, January 21, 2022
- Monday, February 7, 2022
- Wednesday, February 9, 2022
- Friday, February 11, 2022
- Monday, March 7, 2022
- Wednesday, March 9, 2022
- Friday, March 11, 2022
Masks are required to protect the health and safety of both workers and visitors. Appointments only. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian. View the flyer.
Bay Area Community Health receives United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding and has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.
Age Well Centers
The Age Well Centers of Fremont have cancelled lunch service from January 3-14, 2022, due to kitchen staff being out sick. Lunch service will resume Tuesday, January 18.
Helpful Resources
-
Vaccine Guidance and Resources and COVID-19 Testing in Alameda County
- Our Keep Fremont Housed rental assistance program has already helped hundreds of Fremont families affected by COVID-19. Funds are still available to help more families. If you or someone you know is having trouble paying rent or utilities due to COVID-19, or if you are a landlord who is owed rent, visit our Keep Fremont Housed webpage to apply or call the Fremont Family Resource Center at 510-574-2028.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which is intended to help families and households struggling to afford Internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic. For information and to apply, visit their website.
- Alameda County Water District's Help on Tap customer assistance program provides qualifying single-family residential accounts a $35 credit on their bi-monthly water service charge. Applies upon approval of your application. For complete information, including how to qualify, download the application, or visit their website.
- East Bay Community Energy has launched a set of Energy Bill Payment Assistance web pages. They are designed to help you better understand what programs are available and the eligibility requirements. You can enroll in the program that is right for you. To see which program is right for you, visit their website.
- California Department of Public Health platform to report at-home COVID-19 test results to California Local Health Department.
- California Department of Public Health “Get the most out of masking” toolkit.
- California Department of Public Health “Testing your student at home” toolkit.
|
|
The City of Fremont is in the process of developing new Council District maps based on Census data and input from the public surrounding important attributes of their communities and proposed Council District draft maps.
To facilitate this community feedback, the City of Fremont is hosting a total of four public hearings. We encourage residents to participate in the remaining meetings:
Public Hearing #3
- Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at 7:15 pm
- Meeting focus: Discuss and revise draft maps, discuss election sequencing, and identify focus maps.
Public Hearing #4
- Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at 7:15 pm
- Meeting focus: Identify preferred map and adopt map.
To find out how you can submit public comment or attend one of the public hearing meetings, please visit our Redistrict Fremont website or email.
CDBG Microenterprise, Housing Repair, and Public Service Funding
The City of Fremont anticipates the availability of approximately $633,425 for each Fiscal Year 2022‐ 2023 and FY 2023‐2024 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for services benefitting low to moderate income Fremont residents. Services must be implemented within the two‐year funding cycle and started on July 1, 2022 and completed by June 30, 2024. Applicants should meet one of the following needs:
- Affordable Housing Needs
- Micro-enterprise services promoting family economic success and self-sufficiency
- Homeless Needs – Provide critical services to the homeless population
- Supportive Housing – Increase the availability of service-enriched housing for persons with special need
Who’s Eligible: Not-for-profit and/or public agencies serving low and moderate-income Fremont residents.
Join the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and Fremont City Manager Karena Shackelford for an informal and virtual meeting on Wednesday, January 12, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. As the City Manager, Karena Shackelford oversees the day-to-day operations of the City of Fremont. Serving as Chief Executive Officer, she is responsible for providing leadership and direction to City staff and for providing information, advice, and assistance to City Council. She is also responsible for public relations, the City budget, and ensuring operations function efficiently. Karena has over 20 years of experience in local government, of which 15 have been serving the City of Fremont. Under her leadership in Fremont, she has brought several complex projects to completion, on time and within budget.
Part of the 'Coffee Series' events are hosted by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.
On November 13, 2021, Washington High School ABS/Leadership Committee held its annual fundraiser, Paws for a Cause. The event gathers students together to bring awareness to an important cause, while providing Washington High School students an opportunity to earn service hours for walking their pets in laps around the campus. This year the committee chose the Afghan Refugee Help Fund as the beneficiary of the event proceeds. Hundreds of students—and dogs!—attended the event, raising $6,016 by its conclusion. Just before the City’s holiday closure, students Maddy Stewart and Smriti Jha delivered the check to our Human Services Department.
The City is grateful that Washington High School ABS/Leadership Committee selected the ARHelp Fund as this year’s Paws for a Cause. Thank you to everyone who participated in the event!
Water rates cover the cost of providing a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water to the communities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Recently, the Alameda County Water District issued a notice of proposed drought rates and a service charge increase to be considered at a public hearing on February 10.
ACWD is hosting an informational meeting in advance of the public hearing and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
Virtual Information Meeting:
Virtual Public Hearing:
|
|
 Free Webinar Series:
Organic Gardening
Learn how to manage weeds safely and effectively with the rains. Think before you reach for that weed killer! Discover what you can do now to ensure fewer weeds all year long. You will learn about organic, eco-friendly techniques for safe and effective weed management. Join the upcoming free webinar on Thursday, January 13 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
This webinar is part of a series sponsored by the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program, of which the City is a member agency.
|
 Update: Road Closure Canceled for Bicycle Race Training Sundays in January - Event not taking place in Fremont
Please note the road closures initially planned on Sundays, January 9, 16, 23, and 30 for Early Bird Bicycle Race Training in South Fremont are now canceled. The event is being relocated and will no longer take place in Fremont. The following road closures will no longer take place: Gateway Blvd. between Bayside Pkwy. and Lakeview Blvd.; Lakeview Blvd. between Gateway Blvd. and Bayview Dr.; Bayview Dr. between Lakeview Blvd. and Bayside Pkwy.; and Bayside Pkwy. between Gateway Blvd. and Bayview Dr.
|
|
|
|
|
