Alameda County Ends the Local Public Health Emergency

by | Feb 28, 2023 | News & Announcements

Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss confirmed that the local public health emergency for COVID-19 in Alameda County ends today, February 28 in alignment with the end of California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency. While COVID-19 continues to circulate in our communities, declarations of local health emergencies are intended to be temporary. We now know more about the virus that causes COVID-19 and how to protect ourselves and each other than we did in March 2020, and increased immunity in the local population and widely available treatments have rendered the disease considerably less threatening to public health.

The end of the local health emergency declaration does not mean the end of COVID-19, which will remain present in our community. Residents should use the same tools that have proven over time to be effective in keeping themselves and others as healthy as possible. The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency continues to encourage everyone to:

  • Stay home if ill or COVID-19 positive;
  • Keep up to date on vaccinations, including getting the updated COVID-19 booster;
  • Wear a high-quality, well-fitted mask for added protection against infection;
  • Gather small and outdoors to reduce risk or if gathering indoors, improve ventilation by opening doors
    and windows or running air filtration systems;
  • Get tested if exposed or sick; and
  • Plan how and where to access treatment and, if positive, contact a health care provider or utilize a
    state-supported resource right away: don’t wait until symptoms get worse.

These precautions are the best ways we can continue to protect ourselves and manage the pandemic as it continues to evolve. Alameda County, like other Bay Area counties, led the nation in response to COVID19, thanks to partnership with community-based organizations and health care system and community clinic partners. We thank residents, organizations, and local businesses for partnering with Alameda County at the beginning of the pandemic and for their ongoing efforts to protect the health of the community.