Alameda County Health Officer Updates Shelter-in-Place Order
Published on May 18, 2020
Physical distancing, face coverings and cleaning protocols continue to be emphasized to protect medically vulnerable populations and those communities who are being disproportionally impacted by COVID-19
ALAMEDA COUNTY – Thanks to residents’ efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Alameda County, thousands of lives have been saved. While the past two months have been difficult, our local Shelter-in-Place order has protected the County’s most vulnerable residents and the health care systems.
Nearly two weeks ago the local Order was modified to allow some low-risk outdoor activities and all construction; and beginning May 8th, the State moved into the early phase of Stage 2 of its Resilience Roadmap, allowing certain retail activities to resume. Alameda County is using the State’s Roadmap as a guide but will be moving at a timeline based on local data and pandemic conditions. At this time, the data and response infrastructure permit the County to safely move into Early Stage 2, today, May 18th, effective immediately.
“While the data is moving in the right direction, we are monitoring the five indicators with vigilance and caution,” said Dr. Erica Pan, Health Officer for Alameda County. Early Stage 2 include curbside or storefront retail (customers may walk up to the store to pick up pre-ordered goods) and manufacturing & warehouses. It does not include other office workplaces, or additional industries authorized by the State for some other counties that have applied to move faster, like malls and dine-in restaurants.
A list of business types currently authorized to operate in Alameda County can be found on the Health Department’s COVID Recovery page. For authorized businesses, Alameda County plans to align with the State’s Guidance for Industries where possible, and will provide additional guidance and updated FAQs as needed. All Alameda County residents must continue to stay home as much as possible, wear face coverings when outside their homes, and maintain a distance of six feet or more from anyone outside their household.
Every organization and business, regardless of when it will be permitted to open should prepare for reopening by working on plans that include:
• Physical distancing for employees and visitors
• Administrative controls to stagger employees, breaks, and continued teleworking for those who can work remotely
• Training for employees on limiting spread of COVID-19 (temperature and/or symptoms screening, hand washing technique, face covering requirements)
• Disinfection protocols for routine and deep cleaning
We encourage all businesses to continue remote working options and enhanced safety accommodations for employees who may be at high risk for complications from COVID-19.
In addition to the State’s guidance, the CDC’s webpage for Worker Safety and Support also includes helpful resources.
Alameda County Board of Supervisors President, Supervisor for District 2 Richard Valle, said, “Alameda County’s cities and labor force are the backbone of our vibrant economy and I’m thankful for the sacrifice they’ve made during this pandemic. As we slowly move forward, I’m optimistic that together, we can balance risk and safety and get more and more people back to work.”
“To meet our collective responsibility to safeguard our communities and manage this pandemic in the long run, we have to move slowly and incrementally,” said Colleen Chawla, Health Care Services Agency Director. “We know we will see more cases as restrictions are loosened. To prevent large spikes in hospitalizations and deaths, we all need to do our part.”
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Health Officer Issues Order Allowing for Certain Highly Regulated Vehicle-Based Gatherings
Today, May 18 the Dr. Erica Pan, Alameda County Health Officer issued an additional Order that permits gatherings of up to 200 cars at a time, for no longer than 3 hours. This Order is effective immediately. Vehicle-based gatherings are allowed under the following conditions:
• Gathering must be held outdoors, and must be by invite only
• Gatherings of more than 10 cars must have onsite security, requested either through local law enforcement or a private security firm
• Security should ensure compliance with this order, as well as social distancing and face covering requirements
• Parking arrangement must accommodate physical distancing and allow emergency vehicle access
• Occupants of the car:
--must be of the same household
--must wear face coverings if the windows are open
--must always remain in the car, except to go to the bathroom (if one is provided)
--may not linger/socialize with occupants of other cars if outside the car
• No food or drink sales or distribution are permitted at the event
• Gathering planners must apply for any jurisdictional permits, and be prepared to share their gathering plan (as outlined in the appendix) with local law enforcement
“These gatherings are considered fairly low risk, but only if all rules are followed,” said Dr. Pan. As with other Health Officer Orders, enforcement and compliance rests with local law enforcement agencies.
“Our cities and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department have been true partners in protecting the health of our shared community and we look forward to continuing this important work together.”