Alameda Riding Into The Pandemic's Third Year: City

Press release from the City of Alameda:

One year ago, after living with the pandemic for a year, cases were falling and things were starting to feel like normal. Then we were hit by the delta summer surge and the omicron winter wave. Also a year ago, we reported that Alameda’s COVID cases had doubled over the winter months from 1,000 to 2,000.

In the pandemic’s second year, we had significantly higher cases and fewer deaths because a year ago, though vaccines were just being rolled out and initially just available to front-line workers and people older than 65 or with disabilities, vaccines soon became much more widely available.

We also have a better understanding of the risks of getting COVID-19 and how to protect ourselves, our loved ones and vulnerable members of our community. And we continue to pivot when things change. Recently mask orders were modified to let people remove their face covering indoors. But these changing requirements don’t change the fact that masks have proven to be effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and remain strongly recommended.

We also need to continue to do things that keep us healthy, like washing our hands frequently and staying home when we are sick. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, take an at-home test, and be sure to order your free tests at covidtests.gov. You can now place a second order for an additional four tests.

A continued silver lining of the pandemic is that it has brought us all closer together. It has made us all stronger knowing that we’re all vulnerable — to disease, financial pressures, mental health needs and to losing loved ones.

Sarah Henry is a public information officer for the city of Alameda. She can be reached at 510-747-4714 or shenry@alamedaca.gov.

This press release was produced by the City of Alameda. The views expressed here are the author’s own.