Santa Clara County is grappling with how to implement the latest COVID-19 changes, as the state lifts rules on mask and vaccine use in April.
The county will follow new state guidelines starting Monday as California relaxes requirements, but officials are cautious a month after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a COVID-19 emergency in the state.
Starting next week, masks will no longer be required in California’s high-risk and healthcare facilities, including jails. homeless shelters and long-term care homes. Healthcare workers will no longer be required to get a COVID vaccine, and people with the virus can end isolation after five days, among other changes.
A county health department spokesperson said serious threats still exist for people with certain medical conditions and those in need of vital health care services, especially during periods of high transmission.
“Overall, the county public health officer is aligning local requirements with state and federal COVID rules and guidelines,” the spokesperson told San José Spotlight.
The county issued an updated health order requiring the use of masks in health care settings during the winter on November 1. March 31 to XNUMX, in order to protect people from diseases and avoid overcrowding of hospitals. County officials also strongly encourage health care facilities to closely monitor local and internal data, and establish mask requirements and other policies that better protect their patients and ensure continued access to critical services during hospitalizations. periods when risk is high. The county’s COVID dashboard will continue to function and post data related to the virus.
Santa Clara County has been at the forefront of the nation’s government response to COVID and was the first in the nation to declare COVID-19 a public health emergency on February 10, 2020, when there were two confirmed cases of the disease. in the county and 13 confirmed nationwide.
Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of global health, infectious diseases and epidemiology at Stanford University School of Medicine, said COVID hasn’t gone away and it’s important to continue to monitor trends, including assessing the need for additional reinforcements.
“Given the high degree of immunity of the population against infection and vaccination, this is the right time to lift emergency measures,” he told San José Spotlight.
She said the number of people who have received booster shots is still low and urges residents to get them.
county data shows that only 33% of eligible residents have received the updated bivalent COVID booster, and 12% have not completed the initial COVID vaccine series. Only 25% of the eligible population statewide have received the bivalent booster.
Maldonado added that masking has been an effective tool to reduce disease transmission and that healthcare workers should be vaccinated to maintain protective immunity among patients and staff.
Santa Clara County health officials stressed that federal rules still require all providers certified by Medicare and Medicaid to ensure that appropriate health care personnel are vaccinated against COVID.
While great strides have been made in responding to the virus, Santa Clara County emphasizes that medium levels of COVID are still being detected in wastewater samples and officials strongly recommend that people wear masks indoors in crowded or high-frequency settings. risk, such as health care centers. or nursing homes.
Local updates on COVID-19 are available from the county at covid19.sccgov.org.
Contact Josh Ram at [correo electrónico protegido] o a @JoshuaWRam a Twitter.
