Lamorinda Mask, Proof Of Vaccination Orders May Be Modified

LAMORINDA, CA — Lamorinda's restrictive health order requiring people in restaurants and gyms to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test may be modified as Contra Costa County's rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations declines, county officials said Tuesday.

Another health order that may be modified is indoor mask requirements.

Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the medical director of the county health department, told the county Board of Supervisors, "We are working in coordination with other counties in the region who have indoor masking orders to establish criteria for these counties to ease some of these restrictions. We're expecting to announce something with details at the end of this week."

According to the health department's COVID-19 dashboard on its website, seven-day averages of hospitalizations in Contra Costa are down from 201 on Sept. 1 to 73 on Tuesday.

Deputy Health Director Erika Jenssen told the board of the most recent statistics, "We are cautious, happy about these numbers, but also cautious."

While the county awaits federal COVID-19 vaccination approval for children younger than 12, efforts continue to fully vaccinate all residents who are currently eligible, along with providing booster shots for those who previously got the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago. The FDA is expected to meet Oct. 14 or 15 to decide whether to authorize boosters for people who have received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

One of the groups with the lowest rate of vaccinations is pregnant woman. The CDC reports that vaccines are safe for expectant women and their unborn babies.

Vaccine appointments can be made online.