As Coronavirus Cases Rise, Urgency To Vaccinate Grows And Everyone Should Mask Indoors In City Of Berkeley

Press release from City of Berkeley:

July 16, 2021

Berkeley, California - The City of Berkeley's Health Officer along with health officers around the region encourage vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike to wear face coverings in indoor public settings, an environment fueling spread of a recent variant of the virus causing COVID-19 disease.

Each of the three tested, safe, and effective vaccines provide high protection against serious illness and death while also reducing infections, including against the Delta variant. By masking indoors, people further help reduce unintended spread.

These recommendations are not a Health Order. Current state workplace rules require employers to document which employees are vaccinated or not before allowing the vaccinated to unmask.

"We are fortunate to have easy and free access to these very protective vaccines, so anyone who is at least 12 years old should get their shots," said Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. "Adding a face covering indoors for everyone is a simple act that protects us all."

The fast spreading Delta variant has rapidly increased the number of cases statewide, growing in the last two months from 2 to 49 percent of all genetically tested cases. In Berkeley, the case rate has grown in the last two weeks from 1.08 cases per 100,000 people to an average of 3.12 average cases daily. Similar patterns are being seen around the region and nation.

Vaccination widely available to anyone who is at least 12 years old

Berkeley Public Health vaccine clinics

La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave.

Links:

• State vaccination site (myturn.ca.gov)
• City of Berkeley vaccination site
• Bay Area Health Officers Joint Statement Urging Universal Masking Indoors

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