June
State Provides a Portal to Access Your Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record - You can safely access your digital vaccine record for free at MyVaccineRecord.CDPH.CA.GOV by entering your name, DOB, and phone/email associated with your vaccine record. Then create a four-digit PIN that generates a special QR code so you decide how and when to share your vaccination record. This is an optional means to obtain your COVID-19 vaccine information, and is the digital version of your paper vaccine card. It is one of the options to show proof of vaccination - the QR code will work with specific types of QR readers. However, the State is not implementing a mandatory passport system in California. Learn more and access your digital vaccine record by going to https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
California is Open. What Does This Mean?
CDPH has created four new fact sheets to help Californians understand what the state's June 15 reopening means.
Reopening the California Economy
With decreasing COVID-19 transmission rates and increasing vaccination rates, California has fully reopened its economy. This means no more physical distancing, no capacity limits, no county tiers, and relaxed mask guidance. Find out more on the State's website: https://covid19.ca.gov/safely-reopening/
Vaccinated and Traveling?
See CDC's latest recommendation for traveling in the U.S.: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
Antigen Testing – Rapid Results in 15 Minutes
Our 13 COVID-19 Community Testing Sites are adding antigen rapid testing options (results in 15 minutes) for those who need immediate results starting Monday, June 14, in additional to the traditional PCR testing currently offered. Patients may follow-up a positive antigen result with a PCR test to ensure accuracy in the same visit (PCR results are within 3 days). The antigen test is not as sensitive as the PCR test. Antigen testing will not suffice for air travel or when a PCR test is required to get into an events. However, it is a great option for those who are unvaccinated and must have regular testing for school sports and workplace testing, or if you’ve been around a large group of people, or have a known COVID-19 exposure, for example. Learn more about free testing.
Beyond the Blueprint June 15
With more people getting protection from getting the COVID-19 vaccine, California plans to fully reopen the economy on June 15. Life will begin to feel a lot like before COVID-19. Restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, and most everyday places will be open as normal with no capacity limits, facial coverings or social distancing required. This does not apply to those who are unvaccinated, schools, health care settings and some other public settings and large events. Learn more from CDPH.
CDPH Updated Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings
CDPH has provided updated face covering guidance as California is slated to lift many of its COVID-19 related restrictions on June 15. Per the guidance, unless exempt, unvaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing a mask in indoor and outdoor public spaces. Those who have been vaccinated are not required to wear a mask in most indoor and outdoor settings. However, masks will still be required by all who are not exempt in public transportation settings, health care settings, and correctional facilities, for example. Read the June 9, 2021 CDPH Masking Guidance for details: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx.
Sacramento County Public Health Forum on COVID-19, Thursday, June 24
Public Health has its next COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Kasirye, Rachel Allen and Dr. Cohen this Thursday, 6/24 from 6-7:30PM. We understand that many community members may have questions around the vaccine and testing. This would be a great opportunity for community members to connect directly with our Public Health Leadership. Community members can register for the online forum: https://bit.ly/31AMaL0. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese Interpretation.
Sacramento County Enters Orange Tier with New Health Order
Sacramento County’s June 1 Health Order is effective immediately until it expires at 12:01 a.m., on June 15, 2021, unless rescinded or amended by the Health Officer. The Sacramento County Health Order reflects the State’s Orange Tier 3 (moderate) in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Our Health Order includes the CDPH face-covering mandate and documents the requirement for schools to abide by the CDPH Guidance for K-12 Schools and COVID-19 K-12 In-Person Instruction. Additionally, ordered is that sports programs abide by the CDPH Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports Guidance. Some of the major advancements of moving from the Red Tier 2 (substantial) to the less restrictive Orange Tier 3 (moderate) are that many businesses, sectors, and events will have greater indoor/outdoor capacity or can reopen or operate indoors. Dr. Kasirye recognizes that it is still important for the County to reach this lower tier before June 15. This advancement signifies there is lower risk of spreading COVID-19 in the community and will increase capacity that much earlier for businesses. The State of California is slated to expire the tier structure on June 15 and go Beyond the Blueprint.
June 1 Health Order: https://www.saccounty.gov/COVID-19/Documents/20210601_Sacramento_County_Health_Order.pdf
Red vs Orange flyer: https://www.saccounty.gov/COVID-19/Documents/COVIDTierFlyerRedvsOrange.pdf
Sacramento County Public Health Forum on COVID-19, Thursday, June 10
Public Health has its next COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Kasirye, Rachel Allen and Dr. Cohen this Thursday, 6/10 from 6-7:30PM. We understand that many community members may have questions around the vaccine and testing. This would be a great opportunity for community members to connect directly with our Public Health Leadership. Community members can register for the online forum: https://bit.ly/31AMaL0. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese Interpretation.
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May
What families need to know about COVID-19 vaccines
Sacramento County Public Health Forum on COVID-19, Thursday, May 27
Public Health has its next COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Kasirye, Rachel Allen and Dr. Cohen this Thursday, 5/27 from 6-7:30PM. We understand that many community members may have questions around the vaccine and testing. This would be a great opportunity for community members to connect directly with our Public Health Leadership. Community members can register for the online forum: https://bit.ly/31AMaL0. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese Interpretation.
Sacramento County Public Health Forum on COVID-19, Thursday, May 13
Public Health has its next COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Kasirye, Rachel Allen and Dr. Cohen this Thursday, 5/13 from 6-7:30PM. We understand that many community members may have questions around the vaccine and testing. This would be a great opportunity for community members to connect directly with our Public Health Leadership. Community members can register for the online forum: https://bit.ly/31AMaL0. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese Interpretation.
FDA Expands Pfizer Vaccine EUA for Ages 12-15 - Next Steps
On May 10, the FDA expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age. By mid-week, the next step is for the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to make its review, as well as the Western States Scientific Safety Review to independently review the FDA's expanded EUA related to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Upon their approval, the use of the Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds may begin in California counties.
Stay Home After Travel – Especially after International Travel – Get Tested
It is recommend that you delay travel until you are fully vaccinated to reduce spreading COVID-19, particularly the variants. It is important if you aren’t fully vaccinated, that when you do travel:
- Stay home (self-quarantine) for 7 days after travel AND about 3-5 days after travel, get tested for COVID-19
- Even if you test negative, stay home for 7 days.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home for 10 days.
- Avoid being around people who are at risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
Find a number of free COVID-19 testing sites in Sacramento County.
Sacramento Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator Awarded CESA Gold Award
Lynn Pesely, Sacramento Medical Reserve Corps (SMRC) coordinator has been awarded the Gold Award from the California Emergency Services Association (CESA). Pesely activated the SMRC in alignment with the March 2020 County Emergency Operations Center activation and has been a relentless champion of the countywide response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her knowledge, skills, and leadership have become a bedrock against which all involved county departments, leaders and those in the community have come to lean upon. Pesely reflects the highest standards and traditions of the public safety community and proven herself a distinguished leader in the field. She will be honored during the May 2021 virtual CESA Annual Emergency Management Training and Conference.
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April
Sacramento County Public Health Hosts a COVID-19 Online Community Forum, April 29
Public Health has its next COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Kasirye and Dr. Cohen this Thursday, 4/29 from 6-7:30PM. We understand that many community members may have questions around the vaccine and testing. This would be a great opportunity for community members to connect directly with our Public Health Leadership. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese Interpretation. Register for this April 29 Online Community Forum.
CDPH Masking Update
CDPH issued the following statement by State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón, Director of CDPH, in response to today’s announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update masking guidance for fully vaccinated Americans: We have reviewed and support the CDC’s new masking recommendations and are working quickly to align California’s guidance with these common sense updates. While more than 50% of Californians 16+ are partially or fully vaccinated, many others are still not vaccinated, and the threat of variants remains. We continue to urge all eligible Californians to get vaccinated to help us move past this pandemic.
Sacramento County Public Health Agrees J&J Vaccine Use Should Resume
On April 23, 2021 the FDA and CDC lifted the recommended pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine following a thorough safety review. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup also supported this recommendation. Sacramento County Public Health agrees that the vaccine is safe and providers should resume use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to prevent the continued spread of the disease, severe disease, and deaths from COVID-19.
April 15, 2021 Public Health Order
Effective immediately, the April 15 Sacramento County Health Order has been released which reflects the changes and the alignment with the State of California restrictions and guidance for the Red Tier 2/Substantial in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Included in the County’s Health Order:
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) face covering mandate that requires all people to wear face coverings in public spaces in California unless exempt.
- Requirement for schools to abide by the CDPH Guidance for K-12 Schools and COVID-19 K-12 In-Person Instruction.
- Sports programs in Sacramento County must abide by the CDPH Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports Guidance.
Join Us for the SCPH COVID-19 Community Forum on Apr. 15
Sacramento County Public Health has its next COVID-19 Community Forum with Dr. Kasirye and Dr. Cohen, Thursday, 4/15 from 6-7:30PM, to ask Public Health leadership about the vaccine and testing. Please register to join this online forum:. https://bit.ly/31AMaL0. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese interpretation.
In-Person Public Meeting Guidance
The Sacramento County Health Officer established criteria for safely conducting public meetings. At this time, Boards, Councils, Commissions, and other bodies that conduct public meetings in Sacramento County may do so in-person with public attendance with COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Updated Travel Advisory April 2, 2021
CDPH and the CDC recommend delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, as air, bus or rail travel increases the chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 particularly with more transmissable variants of the virus. After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions — like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces in public places until more is known. Read the updated travel advisory and learn more about domestic travel during COVID-19.
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