Eden Health District

The ambitious drive to produce Covid-19 vaccine at warp speed seems to be running up against reality, STAT reports. We all probably need to reset our expectations about how quickly we’re going to be able to be vaccinated. https://www.statnews.com//it-may-be-time-to-reset-expecta/

How to safely celebrate Halloween? What is the Bay Area & California's coronavirus outlook? When might a vaccine become widely available? Is progress being made in the treatment of Covid-19 resulting in a lower fatality rate? Answers in today's Bulletin.

We are doing very well in the Bay Area in curbing the spread of the coronavirus. However, in South California there has been a recent troubling increase in the number of cases. Without constant vigilance on our part, we could see the same rise in Northern California. https://www.latimes.com//new-coronavirus-spike-in-l-a-coun

While cases in the Bay Area hold steady, the number of cases nationwide is surging. Read the Latest Coronavirus News in today's Eden Health District Covid-19 Bulletin

People [perceive] that the risk from people that they know well and feel comfortable with like family members, relatives, friends, is much lower than that from strangers. It’s human to think that there’s a perception that the threat is less, when actually it’s maybe greater. - Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County Health Officer, 10/26/20 Source: https://www.mercurynews.com//coronavirus-how-silicon-vall/

Here is the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic relevant to Alameda County as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle: We’re paying attention to our day-to-day case numbers and we are clearly out of the period of steady declines. That’s certainly a cause for increased vigilance, said Dr. Nicholas Moss, the Alameda County health officer. He said the county is testing more now than even a month ago about 6,000 tests a day, up from 5,000 and that may partially explain ...its recently rising case counts. The county reported 677 new cases reported last week, compared to 487 the week before. We may not necessarily be in a phase of explosive growth or surge, he said, yet. Moss added that the national pandemic reports are troubling, especially as cases mount in neighboring states like Nevada and Utah. We’ve done a great job in California and the Bay Area with face coverings and social distancing and that’s really paid off, he said. But short of closing down the borders of the state, when COVID is circulating in other parts of the country, that increases the risk locally. Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased about 5% over the past two weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a briefing Tuesday. And the positive test rate has crept over 3% in the past week. Neither of those reports is cause for alarm, he said. But they’re a notable change in direction. https://www.sfchronicle.com//Bay-Area-counties-reopening-m

Contra Costa, Marin and San Mateo counties advanced into the orange tier in the state’s reopening strategy on Tuesday. Those counties can now resume more activities and increase capacity for some indoor operations including churches and restaurants. It is not immediately clear whether those counties would lift restrictions right away, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. More details at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/

How are cases being spread today in the Bay Area? A report from Santa Clara County finds that people are catching the virus at work or in carpools & spreading it to others at home. Get the latest pandemic news in today's Eden Health Bulletin.

Tip on how to have a safe Halloween from Contra Costa Health Services: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_UneUnQU-0&feature=emb_logo

Starting tomorrow, Alameda County and the Alameda Health System will launch a new Covid-19 testing site at the Henry J. Kaiser Center (10 10th Street) in Oakland. You do not need a doctor’s note or insurance and you will not be asked about immigration status. Any adult can receive a test on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Essential workers will be prioritized for appointments from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays. Children, two and older, can be tested on Saturdays. Appointments can be made at https://ac.fulgentgenetics.com/

While new US cases hit 3 month high, test positivity rates in Alameda County have remained stable. An expanded range of businesses and activities are permitted to operate in Alameda County as of today. We have the details in today's Bulletin.

As mask use increases, the Washington Post reports, the frequency of observed covid-19 symptoms decreases: More masks, less covid-19. https://www.washingtonpost.com///pandemic-data-chart-masks. .

The Alameda County Public Health Department has announced that the following activities may start today, October 23rd: Indoor family entertainment centers may open activities that are naturally socially distanced, like bowling alleys and climbing walls, up to 25% capacity Indoor dining up to 25% capacity or less than 100 people, whichever is less ... Indoor worship services up to 25% capacity or less than 100 people, whichever is less Indoor movie theaters up to 25% capacity or less than 100 people per screen, whichever is less Expansion of indoor retail and malls up to 50% of capacity and permitting limited food courts Expansion of indoor gyms and fitness centers up to 25% of capacity, but indoor pools are not permitted to open Expansion of outdoor non-contact fitness classes up to 20 people including the instructor Expansion of wedding and funeral services up to 25% of venue capacity or 100 people, whichever is less Businesses must implement and residents must comply with the County's Covid-19 safety measures found at https://covid-19.acgov.org/recovery.page

San Francisco has entered the state's least restrictive tier in the state's reopening system, meanwhile Alameda & Contra Costa County remain in their current tiers. Studies point to significant process in reducing fatality rate of hospitalized patients.